3 July 2026 – A total of 465 individuals died while held in Malaysian immigration detention centers between 2021 and 2025, according to official data disclosed by Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution.
The figures, presented to parliament, shed light on the severe humanitarian conditions within these facilities during a five-year period that saw over 300,000 people detained.
The documented deaths include 393 men, 60 women, and 12 children. A breakdown by nationality reveals that Filipino nationals accounted for the highest number of deaths at 222, followed by 109 Indonesians and 61 nationals from Myanmar.
Reports from the Myanmar Social Association in Malaysia highlighted the specific impact on ethnic minorities, noting that four of the 61 deceased Myanmar nationals were ethnic Chin—two men and two women. Local reports indicate that three of these individuals succumbed to tuberculosis, while one died due to complications from an infected leg wound.
The government’s report attributes these fatalities to a range of medical conditions. Primary causes identified include sepsis, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal illnesses, HIV/AIDS, leptospirosis, and meningitis.
In response to these findings, the Malaysian Home Affairs Ministry has stated that it is prioritizing improvements to detention center operations and management. Minister Nasution noted that the Immigration Department has implemented stricter health protocols, including mandatory medical screenings upon arrival and regular health assessments during detention.
Additionally, Malaysian authorities have reportedly established procedures to isolate individuals with infectious diseases for transfer to hospitals, while also implementing improved standards for hygiene, nutrition, and family communication.
The high number of detainees reflects a broader regional crisis. Following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the resulting political instability and armed conflict have driven a significant number of Myanmar nationals to seek refuge in Malaysia. These individuals have increasingly relied on both regular and irregular migration routes to escape the deteriorating situation in their home country, often leaving them in vulnerable positions within the immigration system.#
