Sabah Immigration Detains Seven Chinese Nationals Working Illegally At Unlicensed Semporna Resort

SEMPORNA, Nov 12 – The Sabah Immigration Department detained seven Chinese nationals during an enforcement raid at a tourist resort in Semporna on Monday, November 9, 2026, on suspicion of misusing their social visit passes to engage in unauthorized employment.

In a statement issued on Thursday, November 12, Sabah Immigration Director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof confirmed that enforcement officers inspected 14 individuals at the premises, comprising nine Chinese nationals and five Malaysian citizens.

Further investigations revealed severe regulatory breaches at the establishment, which was constructed on 1.78 hectares of leased land:

• No Expatriate Employment Approval: The resort operator had not submitted any applications to legally employ foreign or expatriate workers.
• Unlicensed Operations: The premises was operating without a valid tourism operating licence or a business licence from the Semporna District Council.

All seven detainees were transferred to the Tawau Immigration Office for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Sh Sitti Saleha urged all employers to strictly follow legal foreign worker recruitment procedures, ensuring employees possess valid passes and official approvals before commencing work. She also warned the public against harbouring undocumented migrants, affirming that the department will continue intensifying enforcement operations statewide.

Members of the public with information on immigration violations are encouraged to submit reports via the Public Complaints Management System (SISPAA) at [https://spab.gov.my](https://spab.gov.my) or the Immigration Department’s SPO portal at [https://eapp.imi.gov.my](https://eapp.imi.gov.my).

Enforcement Details, Regulatory Violations, and Reporting Channels

Key raid statistics, compliance failures, and public reporting portals include:

• Location & Date: Tourist resort on 1.78 hectares of leased land in Semporna, Sabah (Raid conducted Monday, Nov 9, 2026; announced Nov 12).
• Inspections & Arrests: 14 individuals checked (9 Chinese nationals, 5 Malaysians); 7 Chinese nationals detained for social visit pass misuse and transferred to Tawau Immigration Office.
• Resort Licensing Violations: Operating without a tourism licence, Semporna District Council licence, or expatriate worker approvals.
• Investigating Authority: Sabah Immigration Department (Director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof) under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
• Public Reporting Portals: SISPAA ([https://spab.gov.my](https://spab.gov.my)) and Immigration SPO Portal ([https://eapp.imi.gov.my](https://eapp.imi.gov.my)).

–NMT