Putrajaya Immigration detains 173 foreign nationals at Sepang construction site

Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said 88 officers of various ranks were deployed to conduct inspections at the site. — Bernama pic

First Published: Wednesday, 16 Sep 2026 9:18 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — The Putrajaya Immigration Department (JIM) detained 173 foreign nationals during an enforcement operation at a construction site for a hangar, warehouse bay and aircraft engine testing facility in Sepang, near here, today.

The operation was carried out following public complaints and a week of intelligence gathering in the area near a motorsports complex.

Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said 88 officers of various ranks were deployed to conduct inspections at the site.

He said 261 individuals, comprising 217 foreign nationals and 44 locals, were checked during the operation.

“The inspections also involved checks on workers employed by subcontractor companies involved in the project,” he said in a statement yesterday. 

Zakaria said the operation resulted in the arrest of 173 foreign nationals, aged between 23 and 40, for suspected offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

Of the total, he said 147 were Bangladeshi men, 17 Indonesian nationals and nine Pakistani nationals.

Zakaria said employers were found to have hired foreign nationals using Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS) issued to other companies, while also misusing Social Visit Passes to deceive the authorities.

He said five Form 29 (Witness Summonses) were issued to locals to assist in the investigation, while the foreign nationals involved were taken to the KLIA Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation and action.

Zakaria said immigration monitoring and enforcement would continue across all sectors, including the construction and logistics industries, as well as aviation industry support facilities.

“Action will be taken against any party found to be violating immigration laws, including employers or those who hire and harbour illegal immigrants,” he said. — Bernama