KUALA LUMPUR: Fifteen undocumented foreigners were detained following a raid on a beauty clinic in Bukit Bintang suspected of operating without a licence from the Health Ministry.
The operation, codenamed Ops Dandan, was conducted on Tuesday (Feb 3) after authorities received a public complaint.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said 18 individuals were inspected during the raid.
"15 foreign nationals - six men and seven women from China as well as two women from Myanmar - were working at the premises without valid temporary work permits for foreign workers (PLKS).
"Initial findings showed that the Chinese nationals had allegedly misused their Social Visit Passes to work in the country," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Feb 4).
Immigration officers also seized various items including staff uniforms, mobile phones, laptops, closed-circuit television equipment, business licences and other company-related documents.
"Investigations showed that the clinic offered facial and body beauty treatments using foreign workers who had entered the country on social visit passes. The premises is believed to be owned by a Chinese national who had also allegedly misused his pass," he said.
The clinic is believed to have been in operation for about a year and is thought to have generated hundreds of thousands of ringgit in profits.
All those detained are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
"They have been taken to the Kuala Lumpur Immigration office for further action. Three local women employed at the clinic were issued notices to appear at the immigration office to assist with investigations," he said. Zakaria added that the department would continue taking firm action against any activities that violate Malaysian laws.
