KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for stringent enforcement measures against foreign nationals exploiting Social Visit Passes or relaxed visa regulations to engage in work in Malaysia.
The Prime Minister’s stance was conveyed by MADANI Government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, who highlighted the issue during today’s Cabinet meeting, following recent reports and briefings on arrests made in connection with the misuse of Social Visit Passes for employment purposes, Bernama reported.
“Although their entry was for social reasons, such as visiting or travelling, we have detected employment-related activities,” Fahmi explained at his weekly press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Fahmi, who also serves as the Communications Minister, added that Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had informed the meeting that enforcement action had been taken against 54,791 foreign nationals between 2025 and mid-January 2026.
“Out of this total, 51,100 were recorded last year, while 3,691 were recorded up to mid-January this year,” Fahmi noted.
He expressed concern over the effectiveness of enforcement actions, stressing that failure to address these issues could undermine public confidence in enforcement agencies.
“The actions taken by enforcement bodies may not have been very effective, which can erode the public’s trust in these institutions,” he said.
In response, the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, will remind all Ministry secretaries-general to prioritise integrity and prevent any potential misconduct.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Anwar warned that the government could no longer tolerate weaknesses in enforcement and governance that were not addressed seriously, emphasising that Malaysia must be protected from activities that tarnish the integrity of enforcement agencies and harm the national economy.
At a recent Prime Minister’s Address with Heads of Departments and Enforcement Agencies related to Financial Crimes, Anwar reiterated that such issues must be dealt with urgently.
Fahmi cited the recent case involving senior officials from the Department of Environment, who have been remanded for seven days to assist in an investigation related to the management of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste).
“The Cabinet has not intervened; this is a matter for enforcement bodies like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC),” Fahmi clarified.
The investigation, being conducted under the MACC Act 2009, concerns the actions of the director-general, deputy director-general, and an assistant environment control officer. – January 30, 2026