BINTULU β The Sarawak Immigration Departmentβs Security and Enforcement Monitoring Unit (UPKP) carried out a major operation, Ops Sapu, in Bintulu on 26 October 2025. The early morning raid, which started at around 2.00 a.m., involved 23 officers targeting two plywood factories suspected of employing undocumented foreign workers.
During the operation, a total of 357 individuals were screened across both locations. Authorities detained 203 people on suspicion of violating immigration laws, including offenses under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 56(1)(l) of the Immigration Act. Of those arrested, 129 were men while 74 were women.
All detainees were transported to the Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation. The raid forms part of ongoing efforts by the Sarawak Immigration Department to enforce strict compliance with national immigration laws and crack down on illegal employment of foreign nationals.
According to a spokesperson from JIM Sarawak, operations like Ops Sapu are crucial for ensuring that local industries adhere to legal employment practices and that foreign workers have the necessary permits to work in Malaysia. The department emphasized its commitment to maintaining public safety and upholding the integrity of the countryβs immigration system.
The raid also serves as a warning to business owners who hire undocumented foreign labor, reinforcing that violations of immigration laws carry serious consequences. Authorities have pledged to continue similar operations across Sarawak to prevent illegal employment and to safeguard the rights of legally employed foreign workers.
