Malaysia has turned away 45 Bangladeshi nationals who were detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) over suspicions of attempting to enter the country under dubious circumstances.
The repatriation took place on Wednesday (19 February), local time.
According to Malaysia’s Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), the individuals were among 68 foreign nationals apprehended at KLIA for suspicious loitering. The detainees comprised 45 Bangladeshis, 16 Pakistanis, and seven Indians.
In a statement, AKPS revealed that although the individuals claimed to be tourists, they did not approach immigration counters upon arrival. Instead, they were observed wandering around airport food outlets and other areas, leading authorities to suspect they were awaiting someone specific.
Subsequently, all 68 individuals were taken to the KLIA Immigration Operations Office for document verification. Upon review, Malaysian authorities issued a ‘Notice to Leave’ (NTL), denying them official entry into the country.
The agency further stated that, as of 18 February, the highest number of NTLs within a 24-hour period had been recorded. Between 1 January and 18 February, KLIA’s surveillance team scrutinised 2,654 foreign nationals, denying entry to 900 individuals who failed to meet the criteria of genuine tourists.
