Finance Ministry to Coordinate National Task Force on Social Visit Pass Abuse, Says Fahmi
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian government will establish a national-level task force to curb the misuse of social visit passes and visa facilities, with the Kementerian Kewangan Malaysia appointed as the main coordinating body.
Communications Minister and Madani Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the approach is intended to ensure more structured, comprehensive, and effective enforcement.
He said the Finance Ministry will lead efforts to review legal provisions, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and coordinate inter-agency cooperation to close loopholes in immigration controls.
“The ministry will spearhead coordination to ensure this issue is addressed in a swift and integrated manner. An official statement will be issued after relevant meetings are concluded,” he said at a post-Cabinet press briefing.
Fahmi said the task force will involve key ministries, including the Kementerian Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri, Kementerian Dalam Negeri Malaysia, Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup, Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi, and the Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan.
He said this multi-ministry collaboration is crucial to ensure that immigration control, labour monitoring, and enforcement activities are handled in a coordinated manner.
Fahmi also noted that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had earlier stressed the need for firm action against foreigners who exploit social visit passes or visa relaxations to work illegally.
During a recent Cabinet meeting, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reported that more than 54,000 foreign nationals had been subjected to enforcement action in 2025 and up to mid-January 2026.
Fahmi said the figures highlight the urgency of strengthening inter-agency coordination and regulatory enforcement.
In a separate development, he said the Cabinet was briefed on a Road Safety Committee report showing a worrying rise in fatal accidents involving young people, with nearly 4,000 deaths recorded in 2024.
As a result, the Cabinet has instructed the Kementerian Pengangkutan Malaysia to formulate additional measures to enhance road safety nationwide.
-wilayah.com.my
