Kuala lumpur: A total of 242,063 undocumented migrants from 112 countries have been repatriated under the Migrant Repatriation Programme since its implementation on May 15, 2025, until June this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah reported that these individuals comprised the majority of the 264,191 foreign nationals who had registered under the programme.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Immigration Department (JIM) has intensified enforcement against undocumented migrants with a proactive approach. This includes enforcement operations, compliance monitoring, the implementation of the repatriation programme, and strategic collaboration with various agencies. From January 1 to June 15, 2026, JIM conducted 5,470 enforcement operations nationwide, inspecting 76,608 individuals, as mentioned during the winding-up debate for the Home Ministry (KDN) on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) Annual Report 2024.
Regarding public concerns over areas with high concentrations of foreign nationals, Shamsul Anuar stated that JIM had increased operations at high-risk locations. These locations include premises employing foreign workers, educational institutions, business establishments, wholesale markets, and residential areas, with 2,528 inspections carried out. In addition, 470 integrated operations were conducted with the police, the National Registration Department (JPN), local authorities, and other relevant agencies. Seventy-one joint operations with local authorities were also executed to curb illegal business activities involving foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, Shamsul Anuar addressed the issue of criminal cases involving police personnel. The Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) recorded 378 cases in 2023, which rose to 407 in 2024 and 463 in 2025. Deaths in police custody also increased from 12 cases in 2023 to 13 in 2024 and 22 in 2025. The Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) received 100 complaints in 2023, which increased to 338 in 2024 and 388 in 2025. These statistics reflect changes in the complaints mechanism following the establishment of the IPCC in July 2023, which took over relevant functions from the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).
On the subject of the right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, Shamsul Anuar affirmed the relevance of the Sedition Act 1948 as an enforcement instrument against seditious speech. He stated that enforcement actions would only be taken when there were sufficient grounds, including instances involving sedition, racial issues, violence, incitement of hostility, or threats to public order or national security.