TWELVE suspected undocumented migrants were detained late last night during joint enforcement operations by the Immigration Department (JIM) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) across commercial zones in the capital.
According to Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff, Director of JIM Kuala Lumpur, a total of 27 individuals were screened during the operations, codenamed Ops Selera and Ops Kutip, which were conducted in Bandar Menjalara, Kepong and Lorong Haji Taib.
“The first raid, on a restaurant premises, resulted in the arrest of eight individuals, including employees and patrons, mainly from Bangladesh and Nepal,” he said. “A further four foreign nationals from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan were detained at a second location. All were taken to JIM’s Kuala Lumpur headquarters for further action.”
The operations follow growing frustration among local traders over the alleged monopolisation of business lots by foreign nationals.
Rosni Husin, 61, who has traded in the area for 28 years, welcomed the crackdown, claiming that local vendors were being edged out by foreigners operating illegally.
“Good, I support it. Take them all away. All this while, they’ve monopolised everything. Local traders like us sometimes only make RM5 a day,” she said.
Rosni alleged that many foreigners were trading using local permits under so-called ‘Ali Baba’ arrangements, renting stalls through Malaysian intermediaries.
“They sell the same goods as us—clothes, accessories—but they’re the ones acting as bosses. These are not workers, they’re running everything,” she said. “They rent two lots for RM1,000 a month and when we complain, they just say they didn’t take our money.”
“Before this, I could earn up to RM150 a day—enough to feed myself and care for my chronically ill son. Now it’s a struggle.”
In a separate midday raid yesterday, 28 more undocumented migrants were detained at a hotel-style apartment in the Dang Wangi area. Two Malaysians believed to be their employers were also arrested to assist with investigations.
All detainees are being investigated under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, Section 15(1)(c) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. - September 23, 2025
