Deportation Turn in Malaysia: Expansion, Discourse and Practice

Abstract

Malaysia’s deportation practices highlight how the government is managing irregular immigration to achieve the target of “zero illegal immigrants.” Since the 2010s, Malaysia has witnessed growth in the legal, human resource and physical infrastructure capacity of detention centers, as well as an increase in diplomatic resources.  The practices taking place in Malaysia are in line with the global “deportation turn” (Gibney, 2008). Drawing on interviews with leading immigration agencies, as well as document review, this paper shows how the state has rapidly transformed its enforcement capacity since 2010 to increase deportation. It identifies three innovations: diplomatic collaboration, depot management and fiscal efficiency. Finally, it suggests two additional innovations: outsourcing certain immigration functions and including a readmission clause in Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed with labor-sending states.