Pre-dawn raid in Eco Galleria turns chaotic as officer injured and 148 migrants arrested
A Johor Immigration officer suffered a broken leg during a chaotic crackdown on undocumented migrants. The incident occurred at Eco Galleria in Iskandar Puteri, where dozens fled, injuring enforcement personnel in the process.
Officer Injured in Early Morning Chaos
At around 1am on April 13, a senior officer from the Johor Immigration Department was injured during a raid in Eco Galleria, Iskandar Puteri. While attempting to arrest undocumented migrants, several individuals knocked him over in their attempt to escape, resulting in a fractured left shinbone. The officer was rushed to Hospital Sultanah Aminah and is now in stable condition.
Crackdown at Eco Galleria and Johor Jaya
The raid was part of a larger joint enforcement effort targeting foreign workers without proper documentation. Simultaneous operations were carried out at Eco Galleria and a construction site at Jalan Bakawali 35 in Taman Johor Jaya. Authorities screened 150 individuals at the construction site, detaining 108. Meanwhile, 40 were arrested out of 323 checked at Eco Galleria.
Diverse Nationalities Among Detainees
The 148 detainees included men, women, and children from Myanmar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, Nepal, and India. Most were arrested for failing to produce valid documents. Some claimed that their passports and work permits were being held by their employers, complicating their legal status during the raid.
Legal Action Under Immigration Act
According to Johor Immigration deputy director Nor Faizal Rahim, the detainees are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63. These sections cover individuals without valid travel documents or those who have overstayed their visas.
Injuries Raise Enforcement Concerns
The injury sustained by the officer highlights the physical risks faced by immigration personnel during high-tension operations. While such raids aim to enforce immigration law, they also expose gaps in worker documentation and employer accountability—particularly regarding confiscated permits.
Migrant Vulnerabilities Emerge
The operation also shed light on systemic issues faced by migrant workers, such as poor housing, exploitation, and unclear legal protections. The presence of children among the detained adds urgency to calls for more humane policy interventions in managing foreign labor.
Detainees Moved to Immigration Depot
All 148 individuals arrested during the operation were transported to the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot. Investigations are ongoing, and further enforcement actions are expected as authorities continue to address illegal employment practices and tighten immigration controls.
The incident in Johor underscores the complexity of immigration enforcement in Malaysia’s growing urban hubs. With many migrants facing unclear legal status and employers withholding documents, the region must balance border security with ethical treatment and labor reforms. The situation also holds implications for neighboring Singapore, where many migrant workers originate or transit through Johor.
Sources: Malay Mail (2025), NST Online (2025)
Keywords: Johor Immigration, Undocumented Workers, Eco Galleria Raid, Immigration Crackdown, Illegal Foreigners, Enforcement Operation, Nor Faizal Rahim, Malaysia Law
