← 返回新闻首页
泰国主流

Southern senator warns Thais losing out in Malaysia’s service economy due to an Immigration crackdown

Malaysia targets undocumented workers in 10,374 immigration operations, arresting 37,313 migrants. Senator Chaiyong says southern Thai families depend on cross-border jobs worth ฿200 billion annually.… Read More ›

thaiexaminerJoseph O' Connor查看原文 ↗

新闻视频

Thailand’s days of GDP growth in excess of 5% may be a thing of the past as it has grown too old
YouTube video player
视频
泰国南部参议员警告称,由于马来西亚移民政策的收紧,泰国人在马来西亚的服务型经济中处于不利地位。

October 13, 2026 at 10:49 am

in Economy , Living , Media , Politics , Thailand

Malaysia’s ruthless immigration crackdown threatens a major economic lifeline for southern Thailand. Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul warns that over 200,000 Thais previously worked across the border, generating ฿200 billion annually. Now, Malaysian officers have arrested 37,313 undocumented migrants in nine months, with restaurant raids netting thousands more. Over 2,300 Thais have been arrested for immigration pass offences since January 2025. Meanwhile, just 12,629 Thais hold valid restaurant-sector employment passes. With family incomes at stake and employers facing prosecution, Chaiyong demands urgent government talks with Kuala Lumpur. He wants special work permits for southern Thais. Previous negotiations failed, and no agreement has emerged.

Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul warns Malaysia’s immigration crackdown threatens ฿200 billion in Thai earnings as 37,313 migrants are arrested. He demands special work permits. (Source: Khaosod)

A leading Thai senator has warned that Malaysia’s immigration crackdown threatens employment and income across Thailand’s southern border provinces.

Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul claims more than 200,000 Thais previously worked in Malaysia, generating at least ฿200 billion annually. However, Malaysian figures identify only 12,629 Thai nationals holding valid employment passes in restaurant-related occupations. Meanwhile, immigration officers arrested 37,313 undocumented migrants during the first nine months of 2026.

Restaurant businesses face particularly intensive enforcement, with thousands arrested under a separate nationwide operation. Chaiyong is demanding urgent negotiations with Kuala Lumpur to secure special work permits and protect southern Thai employment.

Senator warns 200,000 Thai workers and ฿200 billion in remittances are threatened by Malaysian crackdown

Speaking in Songkhla on Monday, 12 October, Senator Chaiyong Maneerungsakul raised concerns about the consequences for southern Thai families. The senator, representing the media profession, said Malaysian employment had supported border communities for generations.

Previously, more than 200,000 people from southern Thailand worked across the border, according to Chaiyong. They included workers with valid employment permits and others working without legal documentation.

Many found employment in Malaysia’s extensive Thai restaurant industry. Others established businesses, particularly restaurants specialising in tom yum kung.

Indeed, Thai restaurants operate throughout Malaysian states, employing cooks, restaurant staff and entrepreneurs from southern Thailand. Additionally, Thai nationals work in other industries, supporting families facing limited employment opportunities at home.

Chaiyong claimed these workers previously generated at least ฿200 billion annually for Thailand. He said much of this income supported families struggling with unemployment and poverty.

Consequently, losing Malaysian employment would directly affect household finances across southern Thailand, he warned. However, the senator provided no independent documentation supporting the ฿200 billion estimate. Nor did he establish when the reported workforce exceeded 200,000.

High work permit costs leave Thai workers exposed to arrest as Malaysia intensifies immigration raids

The figure refers to historical employment rather than a verified current workforce. Nevertheless, Chaiyong said Malaysia’s tightening immigration enforcement had created serious problems for Thai workers. In particular, he identified the high cost of employment permits as a major obstacle. Many workers could not afford the required documentation, he said. As a result, they continued working without valid permits and faced possible arrest.

Furthermore, Malaysian immigration officers have intensified workplace inspections and enforcement operations. Chaiyong said undocumented Thai workers were increasingly forced to conceal their employment and avoid immigration officers.

Meanwhile, Malaysia had warned undocumented foreign workers to leave the country. Businesses employing workers without valid documentation also faced inspections, arrests and legal proceedings.

In response, Chaiyong urged Thailand’s Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene directly. He wants negotiations with Malaysia’s central government to establish special employment arrangements for southern Thai nationals.

His warning follows a major immigration campaign involving tens of thousands of arrests. On 3 October, Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail disclosed nationwide enforcement figures covering January to September 2026.

Malaysia arrests 37,313 undocumented migrants as restaurant raids target thousands of foreign workers

Between 1 January and 29 September, immigration officers conducted 10,374 operations across Malaysia. During these operations, officers inspected 137,603 people and arrested 37,313 undocumented migrants.

Additionally, immigration teams arrested 1,809 employers over offences involving undocumented foreign workers. Of those employers, 1,692 were Malaysian citizens. However, the figures cover multiple nationalities and cannot establish the number of Thai workers arrested.

Separately, Malaysian officials released further statistics on Tuesday, 13 October, concerning illegal business operations involving foreign nationals. More than 25,000 foreigners were arrested during enforcement operations conducted between 2024 and September 2026.

Notably, the largest number of arrests occurred under Ops Selera, targeting restaurants and food preparation businesses. That programme accounted for 19,301 foreign nationals arrested during the reporting period. In parallel, immigration officers arrested 1,341 employers under the same operation.

Malaysian immigration chief questions claims of 200,000 Thai workers as official permit figures emerge

These figures place restaurants among the principal targets of Malaysia’s immigration enforcement campaign. This directly concerns Thailand’s southern workforce, which has longstanding employment links with Malaysia’s restaurant industry.

Thai cooks are an established part of that sector. Likewise, Thai-owned restaurants operate across Malaysia, including businesses specialising in tom yum dishes.

However, Malaysian immigration officials have challenged claims concerning the total number of Thai nationals employed in these businesses. Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban recently disclosed official employment figures covering Thai nationals working in restaurant-related occupations. As of 15 September 2026, only 12,629 Thai nationals held active temporary employment passes in those occupations.

Of these, 12,541 were registered as Thai cooks. Another 43 were classified as restaurant crew members, while 38 worked in eateries. Additionally, seven were registered under the restaurant worker category. The figures provide a detailed breakdown of Thai nationals legally employed in specified restaurant occupations.

Crucially, they do not represent the total number of Thai nationals working throughout Malaysia. Workers employed in other industries are excluded from this restaurant-specific breakdown.

Neither are undocumented workers included in Malaysia’s employment registration system. Zakaria also questioned claims that approximately 200,000 Thai nationals worked across 5,000 Malaysian tom yum restaurants. He said those estimates could not be verified.

Over 2,300 Thais arrested for immigration pass offences as fresh Selangor raids net 11 more nationals

The Malaysian figures therefore differ sharply from the historical workforce numbers cited by Chaiyong. Nevertheless, they cover different categories and periods. They cannot establish how many Thai nationals have lost employment.

Separately, Zakaria disclosed that 2,316 Thai nationals had been arrested for misusing immigration passes. These arrests occurred between January 2025 and 15 September 2026.

The figures confirm that Thai nationals have been directly affected by Malaysia’s immigration enforcement operations. Moreover, further arrests followed during raids in Selangor earlier this month. On 7 October, Malaysian immigration officers targeted nine locations in Seri Kembangan and Bandar Baru Klang.

During the operation, officers inspected 307 people and arrested 174 foreign nationals. Among those arrested were 11 Thai nationals. Six Malaysian employers were also arrested.

According to Zakaria, suspected offences included overstaying and misuse of immigration passes. Other cases involved foreign nationals who failed to possess valid travel documents.

Following the raids, the arrested foreigners were transferred to the Semenyih Immigration Detention Depot. Investigations continued into their immigration status and suspected offences. Meanwhile, Malaysian immigration officials reported further enforcement statistics on 8 October.

Malaysia reports 1,880 employer arrests and RM41 million in penalties as Thai senator demands action

By that date, employer arrests had reached 1,880. Officials also reported collecting RM41 million in compound penalties. These figures provide further evidence of Malaysia’s extensive enforcement operations against undocumented foreign employment.

For Thai workers, the campaign has particular implications for restaurants, food businesses and other workplaces employing foreign nationals.

Employers face penalties for immigration offences. Meanwhile, foreign workers without valid permits face arrest and possible removal. Against this background, Chaiyong has demanded urgent action from the Thai government. His central proposal involves special employment permits for Thai nationals originating from the southern border provinces.

He argued that Thailand and Malaysia already possess established arrangements supporting cross-border cooperation. Specifically, he cited sister-city agreements linking five southern Thai provinces with five neighbouring Malaysian states. These agreements provide an existing framework for relations between communities on both sides of the border.

Senator cites cultural ties and lower travel costs in push for special Malaysian work permits for Thais

Furthermore, Chaiyong highlighted longstanding religious, linguistic and cultural connections between southern Thailand and Malaysia. He said these relationships distinguished southern Thai workers from many other foreign nationals seeking Malaysian employment. Geographical proximity also makes Malaysia an accessible employment destination for residents of southern Thailand.

Workers can cross the border without the substantial travel costs associated with employment in distant countries. Consequently, Chaiyong argued that Malaysian employment remained particularly important for lower-income southern Thai families.

He also pointed to Malaysia’s continuing demand for foreign labour. Accordingly, he proposed negotiations allowing southern Thai nationals to obtain employment permits under special arrangements.

Such an agreement would require approval from Malaysia’s central government. Its existing foreign worker system requires approved employment arrangements, employer quotas and appropriate immigration documentation. Permission to enter Malaysia does not automatically provide permission to work. Therefore, Thai nationals employed without valid permits remain subject to Malaysian immigration enforcement.

Previous efforts to legalise Thai workers fail as senator demands direct talks with Malaysian government

Chaiyong acknowledged that previous attempts to resolve the problem had failed to secure an agreement. He said the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, or SBPAC, had already pursued discussions concerning undocumented Thai workers.

Representatives of political parties with electoral support in southern Thailand had also attempted to address the issue.

However, the senator said these efforts had not received a positive response from Malaysia’s central government. He therefore called for direct involvement by Thailand’s Labour Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regional discussions had failed to resolve the employment problem, he argued. Instead, he wants negotiations conducted directly between the Thai government and Kuala Lumpur.

“It is the duty of the Thai government, the Minister of Labour, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prioritise and seriously negotiate with the Malaysian central government on the issues of Thai workers, in order to solve unemployment and poverty in the southern border provinces,” Chaiyong said.

Southern Thai families face reduced earnings as Malaysian restaurant crackdown threatens employment

The senator linked the employment issue directly to economic conditions in southern Thailand. He said families in the border provinces had long depended on income earned by relatives working in Malaysia.

In particular, restaurant employment provided opportunities for workers unable to secure adequate income at home. Other industries also employed Thai nationals, providing additional sources of household income.

However, undocumented employment leaves workers exposed to Malaysian immigration inspections and arrests. Consequently, Chaiyong warned that continued enforcement could reduce earnings returning to southern Thailand. His concerns also extend to Thai-owned businesses operating in Malaysia. Restaurants employing workers without valid documentation face the same immigration enforcement measures as other Malaysian businesses.

Furthermore, Malaysia’s Ops Selera campaign has specifically targeted restaurants and food preparation establishments. The programme’s 19,301 foreign national arrests demonstrate the scale of enforcement within that sector. However, Malaysian officials have not established how many of those arrested were Thai nationals. Similarly, the number of Thai-owned restaurants affected by enforcement operations remains unconfirmed.

Thai ambassador and southern border officials discuss employment but no new work permit deal is announced

Meanwhile, Thai diplomatic representatives have already discussed employment and economic cooperation with southern border officials. On 24 September, Thai Ambassador to Malaysia Lada Phumas met an SBPAC delegation at the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The delegation was led by the centre’s acting secretary-general.

During the meeting, representatives discussed economic development and vocational skills. They also examined initiatives intended to benefit Thai nationals working in Malaysia. Additionally, the embassy identified opportunities for cooperation in halal industries, agriculture and livestock. Tourism and education were also included in the discussions.

However, the meeting did not produce an announced agreement establishing special employment permits for southern Thai workers. Nor was an arrangement disclosed for regularising undocumented Thai nationals already working in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the talks demonstrate that cross-border employment and economic cooperation were already on the diplomatic agenda.

Chaiyong’s latest intervention now places additional attention on negotiations involving Malaysia’s central government. The central issue remains the distinction between documented employment and work undertaken without valid immigration permission. Malaysia continues to enforce its immigration and employment regulations against undocumented foreign workers. Employers who recruit or employ workers outside the legal system also face enforcement action.

Malaysian figures leave Thai job losses unconfirmed as remittance claims remain without verification

Meanwhile, Thailand faces concerns over the potential reduction of employment opportunities for residents of its southern border provinces. The confirmed employment figures provide an important distinction.

Malaysia has identified 12,629 Thai nationals holding active temporary employment passes in specified restaurant occupations. However, that figure cannot establish the total Thai workforce across Malaysia.

Likewise, Chaiyong’s historical estimate of more than 200,000 workers has not been independently verified. The two figures cannot therefore be used to calculate the number of Thai workers who have lost their jobs. The senator’s claim concerning ฿200 billion in annual remittances also remains unsubstantiated by independent figures.

No verified current estimate of remittances from Thai workers in Malaysia was included in the available information. Nevertheless, Malaysian enforcement statistics confirm extensive operations involving undocumented workers and their employers. Restaurant businesses have been a major focus, while Thai nationals have been arrested in recent operations.

Bangkok seeks Malaysian work permit solution as immigration raids continue and no agreement is reached

For Chaiyong, the immediate objective is a negotiated employment arrangement covering southern Thai workers. He wants the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pursue that objective directly with Kuala Lumpur. The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre has already participated in discussions concerning employment cooperation.

However, no new bilateral agreement on special work permits had been announced as of 13 October. Malaysian immigration officers continue enforcing existing employment regulations. Thai workers without valid permits remain exposed to arrest, while employers face inspections and penalties.

For southern Thai communities, the employment issue now rests on Malaysia’s enforcement campaign and further government discussions. The senator has called for negotiations. Kuala Lumpur has yet to announce the special employment arrangements he is seeking.

Mixed signals from economy that consistently shows resilience as Fitch warns about outlook for banks

US exports surge as Thailand posts a record month with a contraction of output to China and trade deficit

Thailand’s success in the United States and sharp rise in exports sees it put on the Treasury’s watchlist

Senator wants to look closely at the cryptocurrency market as upper house seeks answers on rising baht

Crisis for Thailand as baht rockets in value putting exports and foreign tourism under further pressure

Bank of Thailand’s sounds warning to government on the urgent need for action to curb the baht’s value

Rates cut to 1.25% as damaged economy limps on to the end of 2025 with even stiffer headwinds ahead

Rising fears that Thailand’s trade deal with the United States may be scrapped over the Cambodian war

Ex Energy Minister supports oil and arms supplies blockade against Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand

Travellers being ‘restricted’ from entering Thailand as security risks linked to the Thai Cambodian war

Joseph Anthony is an expat from Ireland who has lived in Thailand for the last decade. He has worked extensively in the media including editorial positions in Ireland and Thailand. He is focused on economic and business stories in Thailand as well as the expat lifestyle.

All posts by Joseph O' Connor

Eleven arrested in Saturday property raids linked to foreigners with links to criminality across Bangkok October 10, 2026 Police raid Bangkok’s luxury estates, targeting

Burmese drug kingpin with multiple identities and lives linked to massive cash seizure in Chiang Rai October 10, 2026 Dead in 2022. Arrested in South Korea in 2026. Noo

Thailand reels at story of mother taken against her will to a prison like nursing home with caged beds for inmates October 9, 2026 Police probe a family nightmare as Mother Phat, 63,

51 year old Frenchman arrested in Chiang Mai for running a tourist hostel through a nominee company October 9, 2026 Frenchman arrested after police raid a Chiang Mai

Queen is first Thai woman to fly a Swedish Gripen fighter jet. King in Surat Thani to congratulate her October 9, 2026 From Boeing jets to a supersonic fighter: Queen

Justice Minister and other cabinet members lead raids on Jewish centres in Bangkok as financial case grows October 8, 2026 A tiny Bangkok office registered to six entities, 61

Licenced online gambling site abroad linked to the husband of a government MP raises legal quandary October 8, 2026 A ฿1.9bn wealth controversy threatens to engulf

Horror care centre closed in Kanchanaburi where patients were locked into caged beds and prison cells October 7, 2026 Steel cage beds, barred rooms and psychiatric patients

New tourist tax of 450 baht a step closer with officials targeting early 2027 after cabinet approval is obtained October 7, 2026 Foreign tourists face a ฿450 Thai entry charge from

Corruption and crime crusader carted off to Bangkok Remand Prison after court refused last minute bail October 5, 2026 Atchariya is behind bars after losing bail as cyber

Vietnam’s economic growth races ahead of Thailand’s putting it on track to overtake its net GDP by 2029 October 5, 2026 Thailand’s economic lead is under pressure as

America reached out to Thais in Korat last weekend with a county fair show hosted by Ambassador O’ Neill October 5, 2026 Freedom, jazz and enterprise take centre stage in

Two Germans killed on Khao Lak died on a road that had already claimed foreign lives and seen carnage October 4, 2026 German couple killed at a Khao Lak crossing join a

Harrowing moments for husband in Chonburi who saw his wife killed by an angry elephant early Sunday October 4, 2026 Wild elephant pursues and kills Wanna Sridachama, 36,

Drunk driver mowed down a Thai woman and her German friend in Saturday’s early hours. Both died October 4, 2026 Double tragedy on Bangkok’s Thong Lor Road as Thai

Top anti corruption crusader arrested and charged by police in online gambling probe linked to boxing October 3, 2026 Thailand’s top crime fighter Atchariya is jailed

US raises the stakes on industrial capacity and transshipments posing trade barriers to Thai exports October 3, 2026 Bangkok’s US trade bargain faces a tariff

Counterfeiting racket selling on TikTok and Lazada busted in Samut Sakhon. Six foreigners arrested on site October 10, 2026

PM says he can explain. Denies power over impartial agencies as a no confidence motion is filed in House October 10, 2026

Murder in Trang over meth tablet dealing. Two men arrested after burned remains found near reservoir October 9, 2026

Commerce Minister says that a November signing of a US Thai trade deal is in sight as exporters stand by October 9, 2026

Armed police action in Nonthaburi as man wanted for attempted murder sought to evade an arrest warrant October 9, 2026

Thailand struggles economically even with revised World Bank GDP growth for 2026 coming in at 2% for 2026 October 8, 2026

New taxes simply for going in and out of Thailand in addition to higher airport tax already implemented October 8, 2026

Thaksin comes to Tax Court in Bangkok seeking temporary injunction to halt Revenue Department’s enforcement October 7, 2026

Senators from the ‘blue’ camp move against dissident Election Commissioner Sitthichot Intrawises October 6, 2026

Thai Airways defeats flood crisis but finds itself in a brewing crisis of confidence over its management October 5, 2026

Grab delivery driver strikes rich in Phuket by using trade to burgle 2 homes netting 3.69 million baht October 5, 2026

USS George HW Bush arrives in Phuket one day early and berths 3.3km offshore. Sailors landing ashore in holiday mode October 5, 2026

Police investigate a Burmese kingpin who entered Thailand by plane from India and had access to wealth October 4, 2026

Thai industrial base hammered by flooding crisis. Over 4k firms report a need for financial assistance October 4, 2026

House Committee chair Rome to call Bhumjaithai MP and Australian husband on Wednesday over wealth October 4, 2026

Two German tourists killed at Phang-nga zebra crossing. Pickup driver tore into them on Friday night October 3, 2026

Storm clouds gathering again as Thailand races to bolster its flood defences after last week’s deluge October 3, 2026

Bhumjaithai MP files police report against People’s Party’s Rangsiman Rome over scammer link remarks October 2, 2026

Thai Airways boss fired by the board chaired by Finance Ministry chief on Friday over baggage crisis October 2, 2026

Elderly woman seriously injured after an old man drove EV car at speed into a crowded Bangkok shrine October 2, 2026

Tuk Tuk driver in Phuket assaulted by Middle Eastern looking tourist who failed to pay his fare to a hotel October 2, 2026

Naturalised citizenship scrutinised as PM scraps Israeli’s Thai status over ongoing home passport use October 1, 2026

© 2026 Thai Examiner. All rights reserved.

手机左右滑动,电脑按 ← → 键,也能切换新闻