THE Immigration Department has uncovered a growing tactic of abusing domestic helper visas to carry out illegal work as guest relations officers (GROs), following midnight raids on luxury entertainment venues in Sri Hartamas.
In a statement following the enforcement operation dubbed Ops Gegar, Kuala Lumpur Immigration director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said that of the 63 individuals checked during the raids, 41 were detained – comprising 39 foreigners and two local men believed to be managers of the premises.
"Nine Vietnamese women, 22 Thai women and eight Bangladeshi men were arrested, along with two Malaysians suspected of employing and harbouring undocumented migrants," he said, adding that most of the women had entered the country on maid permits but were instead working illegally as GROs and drinking companions.
“Our month-long surveillance revealed these outlets employed foreign workers in breach of their visa conditions. Price sashes were found, indicating charges between RM100 and RM500 per GRO,” Wan Mohammed Saupee added.
The foreigners are now under investigation for overstaying, breaching visa terms, and failing to produce valid travel documents, while the local suspects face prosecution under the Immigration Act for aiding and employing undocumented workers.
Authorities have issued a stern reminder to employers not to hire illegal workers, warning of tough legal consequences.
In a separate development, the Immigration Department also dismantled a forgery syndicate involved in falsifying passports for use in foreign worker medical checks under the Foreign Workers' Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (FOMEMA).
The operation, codenamed Ops Serkap, was led by the Special Tactical Team (PASTAK) under the department’s Intelligence and Special Operations Division and conducted across several locations in Kepong, Cheras, Pudu and Puchong.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban (pic) said three Bangladeshi men aged between 21 and 40 were arrested, while two women and one Malaysian man were issued witness summonses.
“The syndicate’s modus operandi was to forge health check documentation required for the renewal of temporary work visit passes (PLKS). The ringleader would send a worker’s details and passport-sized photo to syndicate members, who would then produce fake passports to present at designated clinics,” he explained.
The operation, based on three months of intelligence gathering, also uncovered a novel distribution method. Forged passports were delivered using food delivery services, disguised in polystyrene packaging and labelled as 'Bangla food' to avoid detection.
Authorities seized 30 suspected forged passports from various countries including Bangladesh, Indonesia and Myanmar, along with 14 FOMEMA forms, a laptop, two printers and equipment used to produce the documents.
The syndicate is believed to have operated for over a year, charging RM350 to RM450 per worker for the illegal service.
Those detained face multiple charges including document forgery, impersonation, overstaying, and failure to present valid travel documentation under the Passport Act 1966 and Immigration Act 1959/63. - October 2, 2025
