PASIR GUDANG: A total of 225 individuals were detained at Johor's largest processing and construction site for petrochemical structures during a raid at Tanjung Langsat.
Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said they were apprehended in an operation codenamed Ops Mahir on Tuesday (July 22) at 11am.
"The operation was conducted following intelligence results after receiving information from the public about foreigners working without valid work permits," he said in a statement.
Mohd Rusdi stated that these illegal foreign workers were believed to have been working at the site for the past two to three months.
He noted that 664 locals and foreigners were inspected during the raid, with 225 apprehended for committing several offences, aged between 21 and 63.
"Those detained were 129 mainland Chinese men, four Chinese national females, 84 Bangladeshi males, two Indonesian men, two Pakistani males, and two Nepalese men," said Mohd Rusdi.
He added that the department also detained two locals — a man and a woman, who were the manager and the human resource officer at the site, respectively.
Mohd Rusdi said the foreigners were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering and staying in Malaysia without valid permits.
Other offences included staying in the country after their valid passes or permits expired or were cancelled under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act.
They also committed offences under Regulations 11(7)(a) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for misuse of social visit passes and Regulations 39(b) for violating specified pass conditions.
"The two Malaysians were detained for harbouring foreigners under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," said Mohd Rusdi.
He added that a total of six notices were issued to individuals to appear at the department’s enforcement division to assist with the investigation.
"All detainees are placed at the Pekan Nanas Immigration Depot for investigation and further action," said Mohd Rusdi.
