Immigration and Ministry of Health Raid 10 Illegal Clinics, Arrest 10 Bangladeshis Posing as Doctors

The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) raided 10 premises in the capital city suspected of operating illegally as clinics for the past year and successfully detained 10 Bangladeshi men posing as doctors at each of the locations involved.

JIM Director-General, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, stated that JIM, together with the Ministry of Health (MOH), launched a special operation targeting 10 locations, involving six premises at Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin, two at Leboh Pudu, and one at Jalan Silang yesterday.

He said the operation, which began at 11:45 a.m., involved a team of officers of various ranks from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division of the Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya, in collaboration with the Enforcement Division (Pharmacy) of the MOH in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

“The operation was assisted by officers from the Enforcement Division, Headquarters of the Malaysian Immigration Department, as well as the Perak and Perlis State Immigration Departments,” he said in a statement today.

Zakaria stated that the operation was joined by the Deputy Director-General of Immigration Operations, Jafri Embok Taha; Director of the Intelligence and Special Operations Division, Mohamad Anas Mohamad Dzarib; Director of the Pharmacy Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Mohd Zawawi Abdullah; and Deputy Director of the Intelligence and Operations Branch, Pharmacy Enforcement Division of MOH, Mohd Azaruddin Jais.

“Based on public complaints and intelligence gathered over two weeks, the operation team was mobilized to the business premises and successfully detained 10 Bangladeshi men aged between 31 and 50 years.

“Initial checks revealed that one of those detained held a Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) for the services sector, six held PLKS for the construction sector, two had overstayed their visas, and one did not possess any valid travel documents or permits to be in the country,” he said.

He added that the operation team seized fake doctor equipment, medications, and cash amounting to RM800, believed to be proceeds from medical treatments and the sale of medications.

“The Ministry of Health also confiscated 502 types of unregistered medicines, with the estimated value of the seizure amounting to RM265,192.00.

“These foreign nationals are suspected of committing offenses under Section 13(a) of the Poisons Act 1952, Regulation 3(1) of the Poisons (Psychotropic Substances) Regulations 1989, and Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984,” he said.

Zakaria explained that the modus operandi involved offering patient treatment services through unqualified Bangladeshi doctors, targeting only their fellow countrymen.

“The medicines sold were unregistered and lacked approval from the Ministry of Health, brought into the country by Bangladeshi nationals who entered as tourists, with fees ranging from RM200 to RM500 per person.

“This activity operated covertly behind eateries or convenience stores to evade detection by authorities. Treatment and medicine sales were charged between RM50 and RM200 per Bangladeshi customer and are believed to have been ongoing for a year.

“All the foreign nationals were detained on suspicion of committing offenses under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963 and are being held at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further action,” he said.

He also stated that two Bangladeshi men and six local women were issued notices to appear at the office to assist with the investigation.