28 April 2026 — Malaysian authorities have completed the mass repatriation of 97 foreign nationals from Johor State, a group primarily consisting of 69 citizens from Myanmar.
The deportations, which took place on 27 April 2026, followed the individuals’ completion of sentences for immigration violations, including residing and working in Malaysia without valid documentation.
The deportees were initially arrested during enforcement operations at various locations, such as factories, restaurants, and residential premises.
Before their expulsion from Johor International Airport, the foreign nationals—who also included 24 Bangladeshis, 2 Indians, 1 Chinese, and 1 Filipino nationals—were held at facilities like the Pekan Nanas Immigration Detention Depot.
Adding a significant financial burden to the deportees, a source assisting migrant workers stated that the individuals themselves were required to pay for their airfare, receiving no financial support from their respective embassies.
Furthermore, Malaysian authorities have placed all repatriated individuals on a blacklist, barring them from re-entering the country for a period of up to five years.
The high number of Myanmar nationals deported occurs amidst a severe political and humanitarian crisis in their home country. Many are driven to seek work abroad due to instability, such as the escalating conflict reported in Chin State. – Reporting by Daniel
