KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah Immigration Department (JIM) reaffirmed its commitment to strict enforcement against illegal immigrants (PATI) through a series of operations across the Kota Kinabalu district over the past week.
The operations, carried out between 18 and 19 September, followed public complaints and intelligence gathering. A total of 104 individuals were screened, resulting in 21 arrests involving citizens of Pakistan, the Philippines and Indonesia.
According to JIM Sabah, the enforcement team comprised 28 officers from the Kota Kinabalu Enforcement Division, who inspected multiple premises suspected of harbouring illegal immigrants.
Those detained were found without valid travel documents or passes and are being investigated under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for breaching visa conditions.
JIM Sabah in a statement warned that action will also be taken against any individual or party found to be harbouring or employing illegal immigrants (PATI).
“Strict enforcement will continue. We urge the public to cooperate by providing information about the presence of illegal foreigners in their areas. There will be no compromise when it comes to law and security,” the department stressed.
The Sabah Immigration Department has been actively stepping up its enforcement operations to curb the rising number of illegal immigrants, citing security and socio-economic concerns as key reasons behind the crackdown.
Authorities also reminded employers and business owners that employing or protecting illegal immigrants is a serious offence that carries heavy penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
With operations expected to continue in the coming months, the public has been urged to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activities linked to the presence of undocumented foreigners.