SANDAKAN – The Immigration Department arrested 55 Filipino migrants in a raid at a workers’ quarters in Mile 19 Sg Tiram here on Wednesday night.
Sabah Immigration Director SH Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said a total of 88 people were inspected, and 55 were arrested for illegally staying in Malaysia.
The detainees include 10 men, 13 women and 23 children (10 boys and 13 girls), ranging from 4-months-old to 52-years-old.
The operation led by Immigration senior deputy assistant director Mohammad Ajman Ajmin involved 54 Immigration officers.
The detainees were arrested for suspected offences under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The company’s owner, a local 48-year-old man, was also arrested and will be investigated under Section 55B of the Immigration Act for hiring migrants without valid passes under Section 55E(1) of the act.
The employer was also suspected to have allowed the migrants to stay on the premises.
SH Sitti Saleha said the frequency of such operations by the state Immigration Department will be increased to deter the hiring of undocumented migrants.
She also asked the public to report any cases of undocumented migrants to the department. – The Vibes, September 9, 2022
