KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 31 undocumented foreigners were detained by the Immigration Department following an operation in the city centre.
They were detained during the operation codenamed "Ops Kutip" near Suria KLCC, Pavilion shopping centre and Bukit Bintang on Saturday (Jan 6) night.
Immigration deputy director-general (Operation) Jafri Embok Taha said those detained, aged between 19 and 50, were believed to have committed various offences including abusing passes to conduct businesses.
"The operation, which began at 9.30pm with the cooperation of the National Registration Department, involved 46 officers and personnel.
"We conducted raids at these two locations following complaints from the public on high numbers of illegal foreigners in the areas," he told a press conference at the scene.
Jafri said the department conducted surveillance and intelligence gathering for about a week before the operation was conducted.
"We checked 120 foreigners in the two areas and we detained 31 individuals, including two women.
"A total of 24 undocumented foreigners were detained near KLCC while seven were detained near Pavilion.
"Those detained were eight Bangladeshi nationals, six Indian nationals, four each from Indonesia, Pakistan and Nepal, three from the Philippines and one each from Afghanistan and Syria," he said.
Those detained will be brought to the Kuala Lumpur Immigration office for documentation purposes, he said.
"Those found to have committed offences will then be brought to the Immigration depot in Bukit Jalil for further action," he said.
Asked about foreigners who conducted food stall businesses on the sidewalks, Jafri said it was an offence if they failed to have a valid permit.
"Our checks revealed that most of them abused their passes and working permits.
"They were supposed to enter the country to work in a certain sector but they ended up working at a different one.
"We will not compromise in taking stern action against foreigners who commit offences or employers who harbour illegals," he said.
