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Malaysian Immigration Department Raids Pudu Area in Kuala Lumpur, Screens 2,500 People and Arrests 472 Undocumented Migrant Workers

1 month ago

KUALA LUMPUR, 13th — In response to the long-standing issue of foreign migrant workers congregating in the Lebuh Pudu area and causing serious public grievances, the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department today joined forces with multiple enforcement agencies to launch a large-scale integrated crackdown operation. Enforcement officers screened approximately 2,500 foreign nationals at the scene and arrested 472 individuals suspected of violating immigration laws, including undocumented migrants and overstayers.

The raid was launched at around 11:00 a.m. today. It is understood that in recent years, a large number of foreign workers have gathered in the Lebuh Pudu area, with some illegally renting shop premises to run businesses, illegally employing undocumented workers, and even illegally converting premises into partitioned cubicle rooms and operating unlicensed clinics. These activities have severely affected public order and environmental hygiene in the local community, repeatedly drawing strong complaints from nearby residents and businesses.

Upon receiving reports, the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department formed a joint task force with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Pharmacy Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Health, deploying a large number of enforcement personnel to seal off major roads around Lebuh Pudu and conduct identity checks on foreign nationals at the scene one by one.

Among the approximately 2,500 people screened, police and immigration officers arrested 472 violators on the spot, including 439 men and 33 women, aged between 18 and 62. Those involved came from multiple countries and regions, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, China, Zimbabwe, and Saudi Arabia.

The enforcement authorities stated that those arrested were mainly involved in offenses such as not possessing valid identity documents, overstaying, holding or using identity documents not recognized by the authorities, and serious violations of Malaysia's immigration laws.

All 472 arrested foreign nationals have now been transferred to the Bukit Jalil Immigration Detention Centre for further investigation and processing in accordance with the law. In addition, regarding the illegal business operations, unlicensed clinics, and unauthorized conversion of premises into partitioned rooms discovered during the operation, relevant leads and on-site evidence have been handed over to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Pharmacy Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Health for in-depth follow-up and investigation.

The Immigration Department emphasized that the authorities will continue to maintain a high-pressure stance and crack down hard on undocumented migrant workers and related illegal business activities across the country, in order to safeguard social order and national security.

Malaysian Immigration Department Raids Pudu Area in Kuala Lumpur, Screens 2,500 People and Arrests 472 Undocumented Migrant Workers

Comments (5)

小关刀1 month ago

This operation mainly targets undocumented and overstaying individuals. Will foreign workers who hold valid work permits but do business or live around Pudu Point also be subject to checks or affected?

jjsgfdf1 month ago

The report mentioned illegal clinics and subdivided flats, and these leads have been handed to the Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Health Bureau for follow-up. However, the results of these subsequent investigations are usually not released as promptly as arrest figures. If you want to keep tracking them, you may have to wait for official statements from the relevant departments or regularly check Immigration Department announcements. Otherwise, it is easy to see only the enforcement numbers without seeing the progress of rectification.

曲延温1 month ago

Among those arrested were both Chinese and Saudi Arabian nationals, suggesting the sources are more diverse than expected.

aim93211 month ago

Long-term settlement here does create hygiene and public safety problems, but after a large-scale crackdown, if legal migrant workers have nowhere else to go for work and daily life, won't similar clusters just form in other neighborhoods after a while? From another angle, residents' grievances and migrant workers' need to survive may have to be addressed at the same time to be effective.

heyj1 month ago

If you're opening a shop or renting a place nearby, it's a good idea to first make sure the foreign workers you hire have all the proper documents, and that your lease and business license comply with local regulations, since joint operations often check employers and property owners as well. That said, this only applies if the operation is limited to the Pudu area—other areas may not be covered at the same time, so it's best to keep an eye on follow-up announcements from the Immigration Department and the city council before drawing any conclusions.