Mohd Khalid Ismail, the Inspector-General of Police, announced the arrest of 187 suspects in connection with transnational scam syndicates exploiting Malaysia's visa-exemption policy for illegal activities, including investment scams, phone and love scams, and online gambling.
Malaysian police are working closely with the Immigration Department and other enforcement agencies to monitor the entry of foreigners and tourists , says Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail.
Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail showing items seized in police raids at a press conference on May 15, 2026. ) Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.
Transnational scam syndicates are exploiting Malaysia’s visa-exemption policy to operate in the country, said Malaysia’s police chief Mohd Khalid Ismail as he announced the arrest of 187 suspects and asset Malaysian police are working closely with the Immigration Department and other enforcement agencies to monitor the entry of foreigners and tourists, he said on Friday at a press conference at the Royal Malaysia Police headquarters,“Investigations are also ongoing into how the suspects entered the country, including whether through social visit passes or other means,” he said, as reported by news outlet Malay Mail.
Those arrested were nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Myanmar –which all enjoy 30-day visa-free stays in Indonesia – as well as China, which is not included in Indonesia’s waiver scheme.
"Cases of foreigners involved in illegal activities, including those coming from countries granted visa-free entry facilities, give rise to evaluation" of policies, Indonesian immigration boss Hendarsam Marantoko told AFP on May 13. Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail showing on May 15, 2026 the vehicles seized in police raids earlier that month.
)In Malaysia, the 187 suspects arrested in Klang Valley on May 6 and 7 are from nine countries. They include 127 Chinese nationals, 23 Malaysians, nine Japanese, eight Vietnamese and seven Indonesians, local news outlets reported. The others were from Laos, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar. They comprise 151 men and 36 women.
According to Malaysia’s Immigration Department website, a visa is not required for a stay of less than one month for Association of Southeast Asian Nations nationals except Myanmar. when visiting each other’s countries, thanks to a new mutual visa exemption agreed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia.
“The visa exemption allows Chinese tourists to stay in Malaysia for up to 90 days, and China has offered a similar arrangement for Malaysians,” Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said on Apr 22 last year.do not need a visa to enter Malaysia for social visits not exceeding 90 days, according to Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry website. In the dragnet, Malaysian police seized three luxury properties worth RM38 million, 20 luxury vehicles valued at RM6.58million, luxury goods estimated at RM12 million and 556 digital devices, Mohd Khalid told the media.
The syndicates ran investment scams, phone and love scams as well as online gambling activities, he said. Some impersonated Japanese police officers through applications such as Telegram, Line and Bria Mobile. Preliminary investigations show their victims were from Hong Kong, China, South Korea and Japan, Malay Mail reported.
Malaysian Police Transnational Scam Syndicates Visa Exemption Entry Of Foreigners And Tourists Arrest Of Suspects Investigation Into Entry Social Visit Passes Other Means Illegal Activities Investigation Ongoing Policy Evaluation Permanent Visa For Chinese Tourists Vehicle And Property Seizure Impersonation Of Japanese Police Officers Victims From Hong Kong China Korea And Japan
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