KUALA LUMPUR, 11 June 2025 – In a dramatic midnight raid, the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) busted an illegal entertainment club in the Pudu area of Kuala Lumpur, detaining 188 foreigners, mostly Indonesians, for various immigration offences.
The operation, which took place around 2.00am, involved 129 immigration officers along with 11 personnel from the National Registration Department (JPN). The raid was the result of two weeks of surveillance following complaints from the public about suspicious activities at the ‘dugem’ club – a slang term for clubs that play loud dance music, especially popular among foreign patrons.
A total of 310 individuals were screened during the operation, including 128 foreign men, 116 foreign women, and 66 Malaysians. Out of these, 185 Indonesians (106 men and 79 women), two Cambodians (a man and a woman), and one Nepalese man, aged between 21 and 35, were arrested for not having valid travel documents or overstaying their visas.
The arrested individuals have been taken to the KLIA Immigration Depot and Lenggeng Depot for further investigation. Authorities also issued eight summonses to individuals involved in managing the premises, including a female DJ who was playing music during the raid.
Investigations reveal that the club operated daily from 11.00pm to 5.00am, targeting foreign workers and presenting DJs from local and international backgrounds to attract customers with high-energy “dugem” music. At the time of the raid, clubgoers were dancing and appeared completely unaware of the impending enforcement.
Immigration authorities have confirmed that the detainees will be charged under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. JIM has also warned employers and business operators to stop hiring or protecting undocumented immigrants or risk facing severe legal consequences.
JIM remains firm in its stance to uphold Malaysia’s immigration laws and promises to take strict action against those abusing the system for profit. – Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia
