The Malaysian Immigration Department has detained 630 foreign nationals during a large-scale enforcement operation known as Ops Mega in Kulim, Kedah.
The operation forms part of the department’s ongoing efforts to address immigration violations and strengthen enforcement against individuals suspected of breaching Malaysia’s immigration regulations.
The large number of arrests highlights the scale of the enforcement exercise, with immigration authorities focusing on identifying foreign nationals suspected of residing or working in Malaysia without valid documentation.
According to Kedah Immigration Director Mohd Ridzzuan Mohd Zain, the raid took place on 12 October 2026 at a battery manufacturing factory construction site in Padang Meha, near Kulim. A total of 697 individuals were screened during the operation, which began at 11am and involved 159 immigration personnel from several states and the department’s special tactical team, PASTAK.
Those detained comprised 622 men and eight women, aged between 18 and 50. Chinese nationals accounted for the largest group with 396 arrests, followed by 199 Bangladeshis, while the remaining detainees came from nine other countries. Authorities described the operation as Kedah’s largest single-location arrest of foreign nationals in a decade.
Some individuals reportedly attempted to escape by hiding in dangerous sections of the unfinished buildings, including climbing onto rooftops. The detainees are being investigated for suspected offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963. Six witness summonses were also issued, while authorities reminded employers and subcontractors to ensure their foreign workers possess valid documentation and work permits.
