A large enforcement operation in Selayang Baru, Malaysia, has led to the detention of 843 undocumented migrants after a tense overnight raid carried out on Saturday. The operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering and mounting complaints from residents about overcrowding and the rapid growth of informal roadside businesses.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari was present during the operation and later addressed the media. He explained that those detained included 808 men and 35 women aged between 21 and 53. The individuals were from several countries, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
According to Amirudin, the crackdown was not sudden. Authorities acted after receiving repeated concerns from the community and completing intelligence checks to understand what was happening in the area. He said the operation was planned carefully to ensure proper enforcement of immigration laws.
The Selayang Baru raid is part of a wider campaign to tackle undocumented migration and related issues across Selangor. Similar enforcement actions have already taken place in areas such as Seri Muda and the Selangor Wholesale Market, locations that officials say have seen high numbers of unregulated foreign workers.
In total, 358 officers from various government agencies took part in the operation, including senior immigration and police officials. During the raid, two Malaysian citizens were also detained on suspicion of drug abuse, separate from the immigration-related arrests.
Those detained are believed to have committed various offences, including lacking valid identification, overstaying their permits, breaching visa conditions, or holding documents suspected to be false. All were taken to the Semenyih Immigration Depot for further investigation and legal processing.
Why do migrants gather in Selayang Baru? Amirudin said it is less about cheap housing and more about the area’s location near Kuala Lumpur. Its role as a centre for small traders and daily-wage jobs makes it attractive to people seeking work opportunities, including undocumented workers.
Amirudin said earlier crackdowns in places like the Selangor Wholesale Market had already improved local conditions. He added that enforcement would continue under the Immigration Act, Passport Act, and laws against human trafficking and migrant smuggling. He also warned employers to follow legal hiring processes, stressing that ignoring the law could harm both businesses and national security