The stories shaping Malaysia, in focus.
Malaysian authorities have detained a Myanmar national alleged to have facilitated the sale of counterfeit work permits to illegal migrants. The arrest signals a crackdown on human trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable foreign labourers across the region.
A resident of Pasir Mas in Kelantan has been ordered to pay RM10,000 after being found guilty of sheltering two undocumented Myanmar nationals, in a ruling that underscores enforcement efforts against migrant trafficking networks.
A Sessions Court in Pasir Mas has handed down financial penalties to 29 undocumented migrants found guilty of immigration violations, with fines reaching RM10,000.
Kelantan authorities have detained three Thai women accused of exploiting public sympathy to solicit donations outside ATMs in Kota Bharu. Eight people were rescued during an operation that also targeted homelessness across multiple city locations.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has instructed local authorities to urgently address an alleged illegal foreign settlement in Setia Alam, ordering enforcement notices and investigation into land ownership following a state security committee decision.
Unable to overturn birthright citizenship through the courts, the Trump administration is now targeting so-called 'birth tourism'—particularly involving Chinese nationals—through prosecution and potential legislation.
A Columbia University professor has defended Malaysia's longstanding refusal to establish diplomatic relations with Israel as a principled stand against genocide rather than antisemitism, amid renewed scrutiny over the country's immigration enforcement.
Ten undocumented migrants appeared in Pasir Mas Sessions Court facing charges related to illegal entry into Malaysia, overstaying and misusing social visit passes. Three of the accused were women.
Malaysia's immigration department has intensified enforcement against foreigners illegally working on social visit passes, with annual arrests more than doubling from 1,279 in 2023 to 2,644 in 2024.
A Pasir Mas business proprietor has been ordered to pay RM5,000 after the Sessions Court found her guilty of permitting an undocumented migrant to lodge at her commercial premises without proper authorisation.
Immigration authorities arrested 111 undocumented migrants during a raid on Jalan Kenanga's wholesale clothing district in Kuala Lumpur, marking another significant enforcement operation in the capital.
Pakistan has deported approximately 2.59 million Afghan nationals residing illegally since 2023, with Punjab province alone processing 138,342 detainees through 36 holding centres, as authorities enforce strict visa compliance rules.
Philippine immigration authorities have arrested a 72-year-old Canadian national in Laguna province following alerts from Canadian law enforcement about his history of child sexual offenses in multiple Southeast Asian countries.
A coordinated immigration enforcement operation in Puchong detained 33 Myanmar nationals and issued 14 compounds for regulatory violations. The integrated operation involved 65 officers from municipal and federal immigration authorities.
Malaysia's Home Ministry has flagged foreign begging operations—particularly those exploiting children—as likely linked to criminal syndicates. Recent enforcement data and coordinated taskforce activities reveal growing efforts to dismantle these networks.
Malaysian authorities detained 86 undocumented migrants from eight nations during a coordinated raid at a Klang shopping mall, part of ongoing efforts to combat irregular migration.
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Human rights organisation Tenaganita has criticised Malaysia's immigration enforcement for targeting vulnerable migrant workers while employers who profit from illegal labour face minimal consequences.
Malaysian authorities have uncovered a shifting smuggling strategy where migrant syndicates now transport undocumented workers in small dispersed groups rather than large batches, making detection harder for enforcement teams.
Perlis Immigration has formed a specialized task force to systematically document and track the Rohingya population across the state, responding to rising public concerns about their presence in various communities.