DENGKIL – The Immigration Department arrested 309 illegal immigrants out of 715 individuals checked in an integrated operation at a settlement near a construction site here early today.
Those detained comprised 280 men and 29 women, in their 20s to 50s, of various nationalities: Indonesians (193), Bangladeshis (102), Myanmar nationals (8), Vietnamese (4) and Indians (2).
Immigration Director-General Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the department received information from the public that there have been movement control order standard operating procedure breaches at the settlement.
Personnel then conducted the raid and found the matter to be true, he said.
“I arrived with the operations team, and found that the settlement was packed, dirty and did not have a proper drainage system. And, there was a space where they would gather to eat in a large group.
“Those at the settlement also admitted to living in groups of four to seven people per room,” he told reporters at the scene.
He said some Indonesian women would “sneak” into the country using a social visit pass after first having their husbands enter for work.
“These women would enter Malaysia on a social visit pass, and continue living here beyond the permitted period. They would stay with their husbands, some of whom work illegally in the country.
“The illegal immigrants detained will undergo Covid-19 screening today.”
After testing is done, said Khairul Dzaimee, they will be held at the Semenyih immigration depot and investigated under Sections 6(1)(c) and 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 before they are deported.
During the operation, immigration personnel also inspected 10 Rohingya, most of whom are United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders.
“Out of the 10, two were arrested for being in possession of fake UNCHR cards. The others have been released,” said Khairul Dzaimee.
The operation, which ran from 12.30am to 2.30am, was conducted by 189 personnel from various enforcement agencies besides the Immigration Department, including the General Operations Force, National Registration Department, Labour Department and Civil Defence Force. – Bernama, June 21, 2021
