# 173 foreign workers detained at Sepang construction site

> Putrajaya Immigration arrested foreign nationals for visa violations after public complaints and intelligence gathering.
- Title: 173 foreign workers detained at Sepang construction site
- Summary: Putrajaya Immigration arrested foreign nationals for visa violations after public complaints and intelligence gathering. Employers were caught misusing work…
- Keywords: putrajaya, immigration, sepang, construction site, foreign workers, bangladesh, indonesia, pakistan, zakaria shaaban, visa violations, detention, klia
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/16/putrajaya-immigration-detains-173-foreign-nationals-at-sepang-construction-site/235365
- Published: 2026-09-16T09:18:21+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: putrajaya, immigration, sepang, construction site, foreign workers, bangladesh, indonesia, pakistan, zakaria shaaban, visa violations, detention, klia
## Major immigration raid in Sepang
Putrajaya Immigration detained 173 foreign nationals at a construction site for a hangar and aircraft testing facility near a motorsports complex.
## Operation followed public complaints
The enforcement action came after public complaints and a week of intelligence gathering in the area.
## 88 officers checked 261 people
Immigration Director-General Zakaria Shaaban deployed 88 officers who inspected 217 foreign nationals and 44 locals, including subcontractor workers.
## Most detainees were Bangladeshi men
Of the 173 arrested, 147 were Bangladeshi men, 17 were Indonesian, and nine were Pakistani, all aged 23 to 40.
## Employers misused work permits
Companies hired foreign workers using Temporary Employment Visit Passes issued to other firms and misused Social Visit Passes to deceive authorities.
## Detainees sent to KLIA depot
Five locals received witness summonses while foreign nationals were taken to the KLIA Immigration Detention Depot for investigation.
## Enforcement to continue across sectors
Immigration will keep monitoring construction, logistics, and aviation support industries, taking action against employers who hire or harbour illegal immigrants.

> Action will be taken against any party found to be violating immigration laws, including employers or those who hire and harbour illegal immigrants
## Key takeaway

Employers were caught misusing work permits and social visit passes to illegally hire foreign workers at a major construction site.