KUALA LUMPUR – Some 229 migrant workers at a metal disposal factory in Meru, Klang, were detained at 11am today after the Immigration Department said they were undocumented and had overstayed their visas.
The authorities also said the factory had violated the movement control order (MCO) standard operating procedures (SOPs), resulting in police handing out a RM10,000 compound and the Labour Department a RM20,000 fine.
In a statement, Immigration Director-General Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said of the 229 workers, 99 were Indian nationals, Bangladeshis (88), Pakistanis (33), Myanmar (5), Indonesians (3) and Nepali (1).
They were aged between 22 and 45.
The operation – part of the Op Patuh series – saw a total of 90 Immigration officers involved and 35 officers from the police force, Labour Department, Civil Defence Force and National Registration Department.
“During our check, we found there were some workers who tried to run away and hide in piles of metal. However, the enforcement team successfully foiled their attempts.
“All detainees will undergo Covid-19 screening before being sent to the Semenyih Immigration Depot for further investigation in accordance with Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966 and Immigration Regulations 1963.”
On June 25, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced the implementation of the nationwide Op Patuh to ensure compliance with SOPs in economic sectors allowed to operate during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Hamzah said this follows the National Security Council’s decision last Monday to let the ministry lead and coordinate all aspects of SOP enforcement while the MCO is in force.
He added that Op Patuh will focus on the abuse of approval letters to operate issued by ministries and government departments.
He said mobile roadblocks will be mounted in industrial and manufacturing areas identified as Covid-19 hotspots.
To ensure effective monitoring, he said, enforcement agencies’ assets, like helicopters and drones, will be used. – The Vibes, June 30, 2021
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