MELAKA – Police are investigating a migrant worker recruitment agency based in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, on suspicion of hiring 79 people for jobs at a factory here without undergoing the mandatory Covid-19 screening.
State police chief Datuk Abdul Majid Mohd Ali in a statement today said about 8.30am on July 1, officers received a report on 51 migrant workers who tested positive for the virus at a plant in the Ayer Keroh industrial area.
“Investigations revealed that all of them were brought into the state to work at the factory without first undergoing Covid-19 screening.
“The company’s management and the recruitment agent will be called up to assist in the investigation. The 51 workers have been placed at the Covid-19 low-risk quarantine and treatment centre at Imperial Heritage Hotel.”
He said the case is being investigated under Section 270 of the Penal Code for “performing a malignant act likely to spread the infection of a dangerous disease”, and Regulation 13(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021 (National Recovery Plan) 2021, which carries a jail term of up to six months, or a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.
Under Section 270, he said, offenders face a jail term of up to two years, or a fine, or both, if found guilty. – Bernama, July 9, 2021
