PUTRAJAYA, March 14 — The Madani Government will set up a task force to tackle the misuse of social visit passes (PLS), with the Ministry of Finance (MOF) coordinating efforts alongside the Ministries of Investment, Trade and Industry, Home Affairs, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives Development, and Housing.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the task force will examine enforcement measures and potential legal improvements following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for stricter action against foreigners using visit passes to work in Malaysia.
Noting that over 54,000 enforcement actions were taken in 2025 and early 2026. Fahmi also defended the International Islamic University Malaysia’s (IIUM) credibility in conducting a feasibility study on Kuala Lumpur local authority elections and the mayoral appointment.
Following criticism from PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan. He emphasized that IIUM, as a respected higher education institution, is fully capable of carrying out such research, and that no Cabinet decision has been made pending the study’s findings.
In addition, Fahmi highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring security during foreign visits, ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day official visit starting tomorrow. Anwar stressed that firm measures would be taken to prevent disruptions.
With bilateral discussions and multiple memoranda of understanding expected to cover trade, defence, labour, tourism, education, and technical cooperation, reinforcing Malaysia’s strong ties with India, the country’s largest trading partner in South Asia.
