Zakaria also said that 23 disciplinary cases have been settled so far this year, with eight officers receiving punitive measures in an effort to strengthen integrity and curb misconduct within the department.

“Regardless of their rank, we will take action based on evidence,” he told a press conference during the Jelajah Wira Madani programme held in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha at the Millennium Temporary Immigration Depot in Beranang here today.

He said misconduct included breaches of standard operating procedures, approving matters beyond their authority, manipulating counter settings, absenteeism, drug abuse and smuggling contraband to detainees at immigration depots.

On a separate matter, Zakaria said the presence of foreigners at popular locations, especially on weekends or during festive seasons, does not necessarily mean they were undocumented.

He said current figures showed more than three million foreigners holding valid passes and permits reside in the country.

Zakaria also said social media content creators who deliberately film large crowds of foreigners to drive engagement may have contributed to negative public perception.

On enforcement, he said the department conducted 5,010 operations nationwide between Jan 1 and 25, checking 71,734 individuals, including Malaysians.

“As a result, 17,313 illegal immigrants were detained for various offences, primarily for overstaying and abusing their passes. In addition, 789 employers who hired or harboured illegal immigrants were detained,” he said.

The five nationalities with the highest number of arrests were Indonesians (5,578), Bangladeshis (3,533), Myanmar nationals (2,856), Filipinos (1,990) and Pakistanis (811).