13/02/2026

FRIDAY | FEB 13, 2026

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Govt defends arrests over temple demolition

Foreigners abusing social passes to run businesses PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry has uncovered a growing pattern of foreigners abusing social visit passes to run businesses in Malaysia, often by using local partners or borrowed licences to skirt immigration and commercial laws. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said enforcement operations have detected foreign nationals entering the country on social visit passes, which prohibit employment and business activities, before partnering Malaysians who hold business licences to operate enterprises ranging from tourism accommodation and restaurants to interior design and furniture ventures. “In some cases, foreign nationals enlist local business partners. “They use the licence of a local individual,” he said. “They may be the investor, but if they wish to conduct business activities, they must apply for the appropriate pass that allows them to do so. “If they enter on a social visit pass and proceed to operate a business, even with a local partner, that is against the law.” Citing a case in Semporna within the Eastern Sabah Security Command zone, he said authorities identified up to 81 chalet units allegedly operating under such an arrangement. Saifuddin said enforcement action is being taken under several laws, including the Immigration Act, against individuals who entered illegally, misused their passes or overstayed after lawful entry. “We have identified a business model in which foreign nationals enter with a local partner and then operate the business themselves. “This clearly affects local business operators who follow the law.” He added that the development of tourism facilities on such a scale could not have happened overnight, underscoring the need for stronger vigilance by local authorities. “If such facilities are being developed, immediate action should be taken. “If our investigations involve travel agents or other facilitators, we will zoom in on all directions of inquiry to identify the root cause and those responsible. “Is this outside our attention? “The answer is no, especially after the prime minister openly called for stronger enforcement.” On Jan 30, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil conveyed a directive from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim calling for firm action against foreigners abusing social visit passes to work or conduct businesses in Malaysia. According to the statement, 54,791 individuals had been screened since last year as part of efforts to curb visa misuse and protect local employment opportunities. Anwar emphasised that visitors entering Malaysia under social visit passes must strictly comply with the conditions attached to the passes and warned that severe penalties would be imposed on violators. – By Faiz Ruzman

295, 504 and 447 of the Penal Code, relating to mischief causing damage or defiling a place of worship, intentional insult to provoke a breach of peace and criminal trespass. On Feb 9, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reiterated that Malaysia is governed by the rule of law and local councils have the authority to remove illegal structures so the issue could be resolved properly. On Feb 10, the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah issued a statement supporting Anwar’s stance against the construction of houses of worship without approval. His Royal Highness emphasised that all development, including Hindu temples, must comply with existing laws, planning regulations and approvals from the state government and local authorities. The statement revealed that as of Jan 31, there were 687 unauthorised Hindu temples in Selangor, comprising 388 built on government land and 299 on private land.

concerns local planning, involve the local authority. If it concerns legal issues, refer to the relevant laws and enforcement bodies.” He stressed that escalation would benefit no one, adding that Malaysia’s long-standing inter-communal harmony must be preserved. On Feb 11, Selangor police confirmed that four local men were detained to assist investigations into the alleged demolition of a temple structure in Rawang. Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said the arrests followed a report lodged by a local man over the incident in Taman Rawang Perdana. Initial investigations found that part of the temple had been demolished without any prior discussion or notification to the local authority or the complainant before clearing works were carried out. The four, aged between 26 and 39, were detained to facilitate investigations. Shazeli said the case is being investigated under sections 427,

o Police empowered to take pre-emptive action to stop offences: Home minister

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

“Police rely on Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code to prevent or stop offences. “Such pre-emptive action is allowed under the law,” he told reporters after the Home Ministry monthly assembly yesterday. Saifuddin also emphasised that constitutional freedoms are not absolute. “Freedom of speech is not freedom to incite. Freedom of speech is not freedom to inflame sentiments that could further heighten racial and religious tensions. There are limits. “This matter has long existed. It did not suddenly arise in the past three years. There are individuals who choose to manipulate the issue, and play on sentiments and emotions instead of seeking solutions. “If it concerns land matters, involve the state government. If it

PUTRAJAYA: The government has defended preventive police action over the demolition of part of a temple structure in Rawang, adding that religious disputes must be settled through legal channels and not exploited to inflame tensions. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he would brief the Cabinet on the circumstances surrounding the Feb 10 incident, including the individuals involved and measures taken by police to maintain order. “Sometimes police action is seen only from one perspective. When a gathering is organised around the issue, enforcement taken by the authorities may be portrayed as not respecting freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. KUALA LUMPUR: The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry will probe community concerns over a controversial data centre project in Johor, its minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said yesterday. The statement follows a protest by more than 50 residents in Gelang Patah on Feb 7, who raised concerns over potential dust and water supply disruptions from the facility, which is less than a kilometre from homes and being built for China-based Zdata Technologies. Responding to theSun ’s report highlighting Johor’s data centre boom amid tightening utility constraints, Arthur said the ministry would first assess the situation before deciding on further action. “We will have to look into that,” he told reporters at a press conference following the Low Carbon Cities (LCC) awards event. He acknowledged that data centres are energy-intensive. “Data centres have high energy requirements. “Under our new energy transition roadmap, we need to adopt greener and more renewable energy sources.” The report quoted Universiti Teknologi Malaysia associate professor Dr Muhammad Najib Razali, who said reliance on conventional water and grid power could no longer be assumed. He said sites with alternative water sources, on-site recycling or energy-efficient systems are now more valuable and bankable. Muhammad Najib added that data centres exceeding utility thresholds risk redesign, delays or even relocation, signalling a major Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Community concerns over Johor data centre to be probed

Arthur (centre) presenting awards during the LCC event. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

programme record participation, with 164 recognitions awarded, reflecting a shift from infrastructure to community habits such as carpooling, public transport use and e-bikes. On zero-carbon cities, he said the 2050 target remains, with high achievers recognised through ratings of up to five-star. “Sustainability is an investment, not a cost. Every sector must play a part – industries, schools, sports complexes – for a whole-of-nation effort.” saw

hub, attracting global giants such as Oracle, Amazon, Alibaba and ByteDance. Johor alone approved RM164.45 billion in investments by mid-2025 but the proximity of such projects to residential areas has renewed scrutiny over environmental safeguards. At the LCC event, Arthur hailed the ministry’s 200 low-carbon zones, praising authorities and industry for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Now in its 12th year, the

shift in how industrial land is assessed and approved. Arthur emphasised that large scale digital infrastructure projects must align with Malaysia’s green energy goals and long-term climate targets. “If we are to operate big centres such as this, we must ensure they are in line with green energy so that we can achieve carbon neutrality. “It is a long-term plan. It cannot be done overnight.” Malaysia has emerged as Southeast Asia’s leading data centre