KUALA LUMPUR (July 8): 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 on Wednesday.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said they comprised the majority of the 264,191 foreign nationals who had registered under the programme.

He said the Immigration Department (JIM) had also intensified enforcement against undocumented migrants through a proactive approach involving enforcement operations, compliance monitoring, implementation of the repatriation programme and strategic collaboration with various agencies.

“From Jan 1 to June 15, 2026, the JIM carried out 5,470 enforcement operations nationwide, involving inspections of 76,608 individuals,” he said when winding up the debate for the Home Ministry on the motion on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's (Suhakam) Annual Report 2024.

On public concern over areas with a high concentration of foreign nationals, Shamsul Anuar said the JIM had stepped up operations at high-risk locations, including premises employing foreign workers, educational institutions, business premises, wholesale markets and residential areas, with 2,528 inspections conducted.

He said the JIM had also carried out 470 integrated operations with the police, the National Registration Department, local authorities and other relevant agencies, as well as 71 joint operations with local authorities to curb the involvement of foreign nationals in illegal business activities.

Meanwhile, Shamsul Anuar said the the police’s Integrity and Standards Compliance Department recorded 378 criminal cases involving police personnel in 2023, rising to 407 cases in 2024 and 463 cases in 2025.

He said 12 deaths in police custody were recorded in 2023, increasing to 13 cases in 2024 and 22 cases in 2025.

"The Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) received 100 complaints in 2023, increasing to 338 complaints in 2024 and 388 complaints in 2025.

"However, these statistics should be interpreted in the context of changes to the complaints mechanism following the establishment of the IPCC in July 2023, which took over the relevant functions from the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission," he said.

On the right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, Shamsul Anuar said the Sedition Act 1948 remains relevant as an enforcement instrument against seditious speech, adding that enforcement action would only be taken where there are sufficient grounds.

He said this includes speeches or actions containing elements of sedition or seditious tendencies, as well as those involving racial issues, violence, incitement of hostility, threats to public order or national security.

For more Parliament stories, click here.

Uploaded by Tham Yek Lee