Malaysia's immigration problem: A question of law, responsibility and humanity

The Star Malaysia · Jahaberdeen M. Yunoos · 2026-10-17 23:00 UTC

'We should never be unkind'.

I BELIEVE Malaysia has had a serious immigration problem for a long time. Anyone who observes what is happening on the ground would recognise that the presence of undocumented migrants is not a recent phenomenon. Despite repeated enforcement operations, arrests, deportations, and regularisation programmes, the problem persists.

We must acknowledge this reality without allowing the discussion to become an expression of hostility towards foreigners. There are legitimate social, economic, and legal reasons why undocumented immigration must be addressed. Equally important are the humanitarian reasons why we should be concerned about the migrants themselves.

According to figures announced by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Oct 3, the Immigration Department arrested 37,313 undocumented migrants in 10,374 operations between Jan 1 and Sept 29, 2026. During the same period, 1,809 employers were arrested for immigration-related offences.

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