Eight foreign security guards arrested

PETALING JAYA: Illegal foreign security guards, beware! And it does not matter even if you operate in a housing area.

The Immigration Department detained eight such guards in an enforcement operation at housing areas at USJ in Subang Jaya.

The integrated operation was led by Immigration deputy senior assistant director Tajul Azahar Ahmad, with the Home Ministry also involved.

After receiving a tip-off from residents, Tajul said an Immigration enforcement team carried out the operation at USJ17 and USJ18.

“We checked nine guards and found eight of them to be illegal. Those arrested were six Nepalis, an Indian national and a Filipino,” he said.

Tajul said the eight were arrested for violating Sec 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having valid permits.

“They have been sent to the Immigration detention depot for investigations,” he said.

Tajul said some of the residents had lodged reports as they wanted to be sure that the guards in their area were cleared by the authorities.

“This also include guards who hold valid documents to work here,” he said.

There have been several such operations conducted in Subang Jaya recently, including one in July where four Nepali guards were rounded up in USJ1.

The department has caught 766 foreign security guards who had no proper permits, and 13 of their employers from 2015 up to June this year. The 766 guards comprised 342 Nepalis, 185 Pakistanis, 78 Indians, 78 Indonesians and others of various nationalities.

Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said about 1,556 guards were screened in 379 operations.

A Residents Association chairman in USJ, who declined to be named, said the department should focus its operations more on commercial areas.

“We appeal to the authorities to liaise with us as this concerns neighbourhood security and community policing,’’ he added.