AN overwhelming majority of Malaysians support the reinstatement of caning as a punitive measure against undocumented migrants, according to a public poll conducted by Harian Metro on WhatsApp.
The survey, launched at 12.15pm, asked whether caning should again be enforced against individuals who enter the country without valid documents or permits, as stipulated under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
By 2pm, more than 3,000 participants — representing 96 per cent of respondents — agreed that the punishment was appropriate, while only four per cent, or 131 respondents, disagreed.
The Immigration Act provides for whipping as a penalty for offences such as overstaying and entering the country without valid documentation. Section 6(3) prescribes up to five years’ imprisonment, a RM10,000 fine, or both, in addition to a maximum of six strokes of the cane.
Although the punishment exists in law, its application depends on individual cases and court decisions, and it is more commonly seen during large–scale operations targeting undocumented migrants.
Immigration Officers Break Up ‘Mat Sero’ Smuggling Syndicate
In a separate development, the Immigration Department has crippled the “Mat Sero” syndicate in Kelantan after intercepting eight vehicles ferrying 35 Myanmar nationals allegedly smuggled into Malaysia through illegal border crossings.
Immigration Director–General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said preliminary investigations revealed that the group charged between RM400 and RM500 per person, depending on the destination.
The migrants were being transported in eight separate vehicles when enforcement teams moved in. The transporters attempted to escape.
“During inspection, the transporters became aggressive and tried to flee, speeding away and crashing into several vehicles, including those belonging to the enforcement team, but they were successfully intercepted,” Zakaria said in a statement.
Three Malaysian men — led by the individual known as Mat Sero — and a Myanmar national believed to be working as a transporter were arrested.
The operation, which began at 5.52am, involved 20 personnel from the Special Tactical Team (PASTAK), the Intelligence and Special Operations Division of JIM Putrajaya, as well as JIM Kelantan.
Zakaria said the syndicate used “rat routes” along the Malaysia–Thailand border in Kelantan, where Myanmar transporters would first ferry the migrants into the country before handing them over to Malaysian counterparts for further transport to the Klang Valley.
“The syndicate is believed to have been operating actively for the past six months and moved migrants across the border on a weekly basis,” he said.
The four alleged transporters were detained under Section 26A of the Anti–Trafficking in Persons and Anti–Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
The 35 Myanmar migrants — comprising 22 men, 12 women and a child aged between five and 45 — were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act and taken to the Kelantan Immigration Office for further action.
Authorities also seized three mobile phones and eight vehicles, including Mitsubishi Triton, Toyota Cross, Innova, Rush and Voxy models, as well as Isuzu D-Max, Nissan X-Trail and Proton X90 units. - December 9, 2025
