JOHOR BARU: The Johor Immigration Department detained 153 foreigners for various immigration offences during a simultaneous statewide enforcement operation targeting illegal business activities.
Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the special operation, conducted on Monday (July 13), involved the department’s Enforcement Division together with enforcement units from all district branches across the state.
He said the large-scale operation was carried out following intelligence gathering and close surveillance to crack down on foreigners conducting businesses illegally and committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
“The operation reflects the Johor Immigration Department’s commitment to ensuring there is no room and no compromise for any foreigner who abuses Malaysia’s immigration facilities to profit through unauthorised business activities,” he said here on Tuesday (July 14).
Mohd Rusdi said enforcement officers conducted thorough inspections at premises suspected of employing or being operated by foreigners in violation of the law.
He added among the offences detected were misuse of Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS), overstaying and failing to possess valid travel documents.
The department detained 57 Indonesian men, 31 Bangladeshi men, 21 Myanmar men, 10 Pakistani men, two Indian men, one Nepalese man, 21 Indonesian women and 10 Myanmar women, aged between 19 and 51.
All those detained are suspected of committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963, he said.
Mohd Rusdi added that all detainees had been placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for further investigation and subsequent action.
He said 16 Form 29 notices, which are summonses issued to witnesses, were also served during the operation to assist investigations.
Mohd Rusdi stressed that the department would not tolerate any activities that breached the country’s laws and would continue carrying out enforcement operations to curb such offences.
He also urged members of the public to provide information to the authorities if they suspected any illegal activities in their areas.
