Immigration crackdown: 123 Bangladeshis denied entry at KL airport
Staff Reporter :
Malaysian authorities have deported 198 foreign nationals from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), including 123 Bangladeshis, after denying them entry due to failure to meet immigration requirements, according to a report by Malay Mail on Friday.
The travelers were barred from entering the country primarily due to insufficient funds, lack of advance accommodation bookings, and unclear travel intentions, as cited by Malaysian immigration officials.
Of the total deported, 128 individuals were detained at Terminal 1, including 123 Bangladeshis, two Pakistanis, two Indonesians, and one Syrian national.
Another 70 were detained at Terminal 2, consisting of 51 Indonesians, 13 Indians, four Pakistanis, and two Vietnamese nationals.
Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhailey Mohd Zain, Director-General of Malaysia’s Border Control and Protection Agency, stated that those denied entry would be sent back under the “Not to Land” procedure, carried out by their respective airlines.
He also revealed that some detainees had photos of immigration officers on their mobile phones, raising suspicions of involvement with human trafficking syndicates. These images were possibly meant to help bypass security during entry, he added.
Meanwhile, in Dhaka, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain on Thursday held Bangladeshi nationals themselves responsible for the visa rejections and deportations. He stated that many Bangladeshi travelers attempt to enter Malaysia without proper documentation or preparation, often misled by unscrupulous agents.
“False information is a major problem for us. Some still try to get away with it as before, but now it’s easily detected. This is what has led to the current situation. We must ensure such fraudulent activities do not occur. Only then can we gradually fix the situation.”
Meanwhile, Shuhailey emphasised that Malaysia would intensify enforcement to ensure the country is not used as a transit hub for illegal immigration, with stricter monitoring and crackdowns at all entry points.
Apart from denial of entry, at least 36 Bangladeshis in recent times were arrested in Malaysia for the alleged involvement in militant activities.
Later, the interim government of Bangladesh assured the Malaysian government that they would assist them curb militancy and terrorism and take action if anyone is found involved in militant movement.
Even Foreign Ministry said that the government would provide legal support to the 36 Bangladeshi citizens detained over suspected militant connections.
“It is clear that not all the detainees have been found guilty of terrorism-related charges. Malaysian authorities believe they have solid evidence against five of them and have brought them under the legal process. Some others have already been deported to Bangladesh for overstaying their visas,” Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain told the media recently.
He noted that Malaysian authorities informed Bangladesh that their anti-terror operations will continue, and more Bangladeshi nationals may be arrested.
“If any Bangladeshi is found involved in terrorism, they may face five to seven years in prison under Malaysian law,” said Hossain, adding that detailed investigations are currently underway for five of the detainees.
Sources said that such incidents always tarnish the image of the country and it affects others as well in obtaining visas.
As Malaysia is always considered a preferred destination for the Bangladeshi manpower and a major source for earning remittance, foreign ministry and other stakeholders have suggested providing correct information and avoiding any kind of fraudulence which may also hinder others to get visas.