KUCHING – Twenty-five foreigners were detained during an immigration enforcement operation targeting construction sites in Kuching on Thursday, 27 August 2026.
The operation, known as Ops Mahir, was conducted by the Sarawak Immigration Department through the Kuching Division Immigration Office at two construction sites in the city.
The sites inspected were located around Jalan Lapangan Terbang and Jalan Datuk Bandar Mustapha.
The enforcement operation was carried out between 10 am and 12.30 pm, during which immigration officers checked a total of 79 people at the two locations.
Of those checked, 25 were detained for suspected offences under Section 15(1)(c) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155).
The operation was part of a nationwide enforcement exercise focused specifically on the construction sector. Authorities are using the operation to assess compliance with immigration laws and regulations among workers and employers in the industry.
In Kuching, the operation was carried out following information received through public complaints as well as intelligence gathered by the Kuching Immigration Office.
The department did not provide further details on the national number of inspections or arrests under Ops Mahir, nor did it disclose the nationalities of those detained in Kuching.
The construction sector has been identified by immigration authorities as an area requiring targeted enforcement to ensure that foreign workers and employers comply with existing immigration requirements.
The latest operation demonstrates the department’s approach of using intelligence and public information to identify premises for inspection.
During the Kuching operation, officers carried out checks on individuals present at the two construction sites before taking enforcement action against those suspected of breaching immigration provisions.
Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act is among the provisions used in enforcement involving individuals who enter or remain in Malaysia without a valid permit or pass. Section 15(1)(c) relates to individuals who remain in Malaysia after the expiry or cancellation of a valid pass or permit.
The Sarawak Immigration Department said enforcement activities would continue as part of efforts to address immigration offences.
It added that operations would be conducted continuously and would focus on sectors considered to be at higher risk of immigration law violations.
The department also appealed to members of the public to provide information concerning suspected breaches of immigration laws.
Public cooperation, it said, was important in helping authorities identify potential violations and carry out enforcement action where necessary.
The latest operation in Kuching was conducted on the same day as the department’s announcement, with the inspection covering two construction sites and involving 79 individuals.
The 25 detentions are now subject to further action by immigration authorities under the relevant provisions of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
JIM Sarawak said it would maintain its enforcement efforts and continue monitoring sectors identified as vulnerable to immigration-related offences.
