IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT DRIVEN BY INTELLIGENCE, NOT SEASONAL FACTORS – ZAKARIA

PUTRAJAYA, March 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Immigration Department has stressed that all enforcement actions are guided by intelligence and operational requirements.

Director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban explained that enforcement is not tied to any specific season, as legal violations can occur at any time.

He noted that, from a tactical perspective, certain periods, such as festive seasons, can improve detection by highlighting movement patterns and concentrations of individuals at specific locations.

“Between March 20 and 24, 2026, JIM carried out 45 immigration inspections and monitoring operations (Ops Pantau) nationwide, conducting 3,826 checks on foreign nationals at targeted locations to verify their status and travel documents,” he said in a statement today.

Zakaria emphasised that these operations are carefully coordinated to ensure enforcement is conducted in an orderly, controlled and integrity-driven manner.

He said field enforcement officers are regularly reminded to follow discipline and standard operating procedures, while respecting cultural sensitivities and community norms in carrying out their duties.

Zakaria added that the department conducts enforcement operations continuously and responsibly, including during festive seasons, to ensure compliance with the country’s immigration laws.

He noted that the department also considers the circumstances of foreign nationals celebrating festivals away from their families, ensuring all inspections are carried out in a controlled, respectful and professional manner.

“This approach also helps minimise anxiety and inconvenience for the local community, especially in public areas,” he said.

Zakaria stressed that the Immigration Department remains committed to balancing the demands of law enforcement with sensitivity to social norms and harmony in the community. 

-- BERNAMA