174 Foreign Nationals, Six Employers Detained in Immigration Raids in Selangor

PUTRAJAYA: A total of 174 foreign nationals and six local employers were detained by the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) during enforcement operations at nine locations around Seri Kembangan and Bandar Baru Klang, Selangor, last night.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation, which began at 7.30pm, followed public complaints and two weeks of intelligence gathering into the employment and harbouring of foreign nationals working without authorisation.

He said 149 enforcement officers were deployed to inspect business premises suspected of violating immigration laws.

“A total of 307 individuals were inspected, comprising 121 Malaysians and 186 foreign nationals.

“Following the inspections, 174 foreign nationals were detained for various offences, including misuse of passes, overstaying and failing to possess valid travel documents,” he said in a statement today.

He said those detained included 99 Myanmar nationals, 29 Indonesians, 11 Thais, 10 Vietnamese, as well as nationals from China, India, Bangladesh and several other countries.

He added that six local employers were also detained under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while 17 witness summonses (Form 29) were issued to several customers present at the locations during the operations.

“All detained foreign nationals, aged between two and 46, have been placed at the Semenyih Immigration Detention Depot for investigations and further action under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963,” he said.

Zakaria said that as of Oct 7, a total of 1,880 employers had been detained, with compounds collected amounting to RM41 million.

He stressed that JIM would not compromise with foreign nationals residing illegally, overstaying or misusing their passes, and would take stern action against those employing or harbouring undocumented migrants.

Vom24.com