LABUAN – Malaysian authorities arrested 19 foreigners during a joint enforcement operation carried out across the Federal Territory of Labuan on 7 October 2026.
The operation was conducted by the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) Federal Territory of Labuan in cooperation with the National Registration Department (JPN). The enforcement exercise began at 12.50 am and continued until 3.15 pm.
A total of 30 immigration officers and seven officers from the participating agency were involved in the operation. The teams carried out checks on foreign nationals at locations covered by the enforcement exercise.
Authorities inspected 38 foreigners during the operation. Following the checks, 19 individuals were arrested after they were suspected of committing offences under Malaysia’s immigration laws.
The suspected offences include violations under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155), as well as Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act concerns the requirement for foreign nationals to possess valid permission to enter or remain in Malaysia, while Section 15(1)(c) relates to remaining in the country beyond the period permitted by an immigration pass or other authorisation.
Regulation 39(b) is among provisions used in immigration enforcement involving breaches of immigration regulations.
The arrests followed checks conducted as part of the wider enforcement operation. The authorities did not provide further details on the identities of those arrested, their nationalities, the locations where the checks were conducted or the specific circumstances surrounding each suspected offence.
The operation reflects the role of enforcement agencies in monitoring immigration compliance and identifying individuals who may be staying or working in Malaysia without the required documentation or authorisation.
For foreign nationals in Malaysia, valid travel documents and immigration passes are central to lawful entry and stay.
Enforcement operations can include document checks and verification of an individual’s immigration status, with further action taken where suspected breaches of the law are identified.
The authorities’ action also underscores the distinction between an arrest following a suspected immigration offence and a final determination of guilt.
Individuals arrested during an enforcement operation remain subject to the relevant investigation and legal processes.
The Malaysian Immigration Department said it would continue strengthening enforcement operations periodically to ensure compliance with immigration laws and address the presence of illegal immigrants.
Such operations form part of ongoing immigration enforcement efforts aimed at maintaining compliance with Malaysia’s entry, stay and immigration requirements.
Further proceedings involving those arrested will depend on the outcome of investigations and the applicable legal process. — Sarawak Daily
