PETALING JAYA: The Immigration Department is tracking down foreigners believed to be operating sundry shops by misusing business licences registered under Malaysian names.
Its director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said 13 foreigners were detained following a series of raids in Sepang, Selangor, over the alleged modus operandi.
“Most of the businesses were believed to be using licences registered under Malaysian citizens, while operations were allegedly managed fully by foreigners,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (June 10).
Zakaria said some of the premises were also found selling products and goods catered specifically to foreign customers, particularly Bangladeshi nationals.
He added that the premises also offered QR-code payment options linked to bank accounts suspected to belong to foreign nationals.
A total of six premises operating as grocery stores and mini-markets were inspected in the raids, which began at 10.20am on Tuesday.
The operation led to the detention of 13 foreign nationals, comprising eight Indonesian men, two Indonesian women and three Bangladeshi men.
They are suspected of conducting business activities and misusing their social visit passes by working at the premises.
Zakaria said all 13 have been placed at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 pending further investigations.
He said the case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
Zakaria added that the department would continue taking firm action against anyone found violating immigration laws, including offences under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
