JOHOR BARU: A total of 131 foreigners were arrested in a statewide operation involving 95 premises, says the Johor Immigration Department.
Its director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the department also arrested one local man during the operation on Thursday (July 18).
“The raids were conducted around the Senai area in Johor Baru, as well as the Mersing, Batu Pahat, Segamat and Muar districts.
“Our focus is premises located around hotspot areas in Johor that are believed to have employed foreigners without valid permits or travel documents,” he said in a statement here on Sunday (July 21).
He said that the premises that were raided included markets, food courts, reflexology centres, workers’ hostels, and construction sites.
“A total of 106 foreigners were arrested around the Senai area, six in Mersing, 12 in Batu Pahat, three in Segamat and four in Muar.
“We have also arrested a 55-year-old local man in Batu Pahat who is the owner of one of the premises raided,” he said.
He said that the foreigners are between 20 and 65 years old, and are from Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, the Philippines and Nepal.
The case is being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having a valid pass or permit to be in the country, Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act for overstaying, Section 11(7)(a) of the Immigration Regulations of 1963 for abusing their social visitation pass, and Section 39(b) of the same Act for not adhering to the condition set under the pass.
“The local man is being investigated under Section 56(1)(d) for protecting undocumented migrants,” he said, adding that a total of 18 notices to appear at immigration offices were also issued throughout the operation.
