PETALING JAYA: More than 28,000 undocumented migrants have been deported from Malaysia in the first six months of this year, says the Home Ministry.
The ministry said 28,525 undocumented migrants were deported between January 1 and July 6, 2025, based on Immigration Department data.
Of those deported, adult men made up the majority with 21,039 individuals (74%), followed by 6,145 adult women (21%), 778 boys (3%), and 563 girls (2%).
Undocumented migrants from Indonesia topped the list with 11,085 deportees (39%), followed by Myanmar nationals with 4,885 (17%) and Filipinos with 4,465 (16%).
The ministry said migrants were deported under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155), which provides for the return of migrants to their country of origin.
It also stated that while Malaysia is not a signatory to the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention, it would continue to uphold the humanitarian principle of non-refoulement.
“As such, Malaysia in principle does not deport any United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders except for resettlement to a third country,” the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply dated Thursday (Aug 28).
The ministry was responding to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera) on the number of deportations carried out between January and July this year and measures taken to ensure deportations do not violate the principle of non-refoulement.
