In a sweeping operation on Sunday, Malaysian immigration authorities detained 472 undocumented migrant workers, including eight Nepalis, during a crackdown in Kotaraya of Kuala Lumpur. The Sunday raids targeted foreign workers gathering on their rest day for leisure and shopping.

Detainees were handcuffed along the streets after immigration officers checked the documents of nearly 2,500 foreign nationals. Kuala Lumpur Immigration Director Datuk Hamsha Bin Injau confirmed that the operation began at around 11 am.

Injau told the local media that the operation led to the arrest of 439 men and 33 women aged between 18 and 62. According to him, those detained were found without valid identification or travel documents, overstaying their visas, using unrecognised papers, or violating various provisions under the immigration act.

The detainees hail from ten countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, China, Zimbabwe, and Saudi Arabia. All individuals were transferred to Bukit Jalil Immigration Detention Centre for further investigation and legal proceedings.

The raid comes while Malaysia’s ‘Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0’ remains active. Initially scheduled from May 19, 2025 to April 29, 2026, the voluntary scheme was extended until May 31, 2027. Under this programme, undocumented migrants who surrender voluntarily can return home after paying subsidised fines: 500 ringgit (around Rs18,000) for illegal entry or overstaying, 300 ringgit (Rs11,000) for pass violations, and a 20 ringgit (Rs700) special pass fee.

Immigration officials warned that those who fail to surrender voluntarily face arrest, prosecution, and deportation through joint enforcement operations, surveillance, and intelligence gathering across the country. According to official department data, a total of 254,186 migrants from 112 countries registered under the scheme last year, generating 120 million ringgit in fines and fees.

Despite these measures, approximately 50,000 Nepalis are estimated to be living without valid visas in Malaysia, many taking refuge in remote agricultural areas outside urban centres. Foreign labour experts say worker irregularity is rarely voluntary, and often results from employer negligence, contract breaches, and severe labour exploitation.

Abhay Adhikari, an undocumented worker from Dhading, explained how he became illegal. “My employer simply failed to renew my visa on time,” said Adhikari. “As a result, I became an overstayer under Malaysian immigration law through no fault of my own.”

Another worker, Upendra Mahato from Sarlahi, shared a similar experience after being ‘deceived’ by recruitment agencies. “The manpower agency in Nepal and local agents in Malaysia failed to provide the promised job and salary,” said Mahato. “I was forced to leave the company and search for work elsewhere, which stripped me of my legal status.”

Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia—particularly across security, manufacturing, and service sectors—frequently endure systemic abuse. Common grievances include non-payment of agreed wages, forced overtime of 12 to 14 hours daily, and the illegal confiscation of passports by employers, leaving workers unable to leave or seek legal redress.

Nepali Embassy officials emphasised the severe risks associated with undocumented status. Krishna Prasad Bhusal, Labour Counsellor at the Nepali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, highlighted the challenges faced by stranded workers.

“For workers with valid visas, resolving labour disputes is straightforward,” said Bhusal. “However, when undocumented workers pass away, even repatriating their mortal remains becomes extremely difficult, and they are entirely denied legal compensation under Malaysian regulations.”

Binod Thapa, former president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Malaysia, urged workers to act immediately. “Hundreds of undocumented workers are being arrested daily,” said Thapa. “We strongly advise all migrants not to stay undocumented and to report to authorities to regularise their situation before facing formal legal action.”