KUALA LUMPUR: Huge numbers of undocumented migrants at Jalan Silang here have been blamed for trouble and property damage that has left local traders in fear.
Alona Passio, 42, said almost all the businesses in the area employed migrants, mostly from Bangladesh and Nepal.
"Some of the foreigners are often noisy and get into fights ... when they are drunk.
"One of their fights even damaged my stall.
"In fact, there are those who even act like they are citizens ... I feel uncomfortable doing business here," she said when met at Jalan Silang on Thursday (Dec 21) following a massive operation to screen foreigners.
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She also claimed that most premises in the area were monopolised by these migrants, who rented them from the owners.
"This is definitely the biggest operation (against illegals) since I started my business here 11 years ago.
"All of us were shocked to see so many policemen.
"It is definitely a good move by the authorities," she added.
Meanwhile, a worker who declined to be named said he was shocked to see the heavy police presence at about 11am.
"Even some of my coworkers were detained for not having proper documents.
"Such an operation should have been conducted (earlier) to address the influx of foreigners here and surrounding areas," he said.
On Thursday, an estimated 1,000 law enforcement personnel, including members of the General Operations Force, conducted a sudden raid at four blocks of shophouses in the area.
By 1pm, some 500 foreigners had been detained for various offences, including a lack of identification and travel documents.
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