NEWLY appointed Immigration Director General Datuk Ruslin Jusoh has announced that a total of 163,862 illegal immigrants from different countries have been arrested by the Immigration Department from the year 2018 until March 27, 2023.
According to the Immigration Department, illegal immigrants use visa with reference, social visit pass or any valid pass to enter the country and do not return to their country of origin before their travel documents expire.
He said one of the reasons why these immigrants are forced to live in Malaysia illegally is to help their families that they have left behind in their countries.
According to Datuk Ruslin, the country of Indonesia recorded the highest number of arrested with 59,733 individuals, followed by Bangladesh with 31,039 individuals, Myanmar with 18,261 individuals, the Philippines with 12,559 individuals, Thailand with 10,002 individuals, India with 9,240 individuals, Pakistan with 5,532 individuals, Vietnam with 5,436 individuals and 12,060 individuals from other countries.
All of them are arrested under the immigration act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
He added that the Immigration Department will continue conducting operations to detect and arrests foreigners who continue to violate the laws of Malaysia.
Datuk Ruslin also said that the Immigration Department will not compromise against officials who break the law, including collusion with illegal immigrants.
