KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 109 foreign nationals were detained following a raid on a commercial building along Jalan Ampang.
It is learnt that the premises were being prepared to operate as an exclusive entertainment club.
The enforcement operation, conducted at about 11.45am on Thursday (July 23), followed public complaints over the increasing presence of foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals, in the area.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the raid was carried out after three weeks of intelligence gathering.
A team of 58 enforcement officers inspected two locations on the 18th floor of Tower 1 and the 24th floor of Tower 3 of the commercial building, checking a total of 120 individuals comprising seven Malaysians and 113 foreigners from China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and India.
"During the operation, the foreigners were found carrying out renovation works at several units within the building.
"The premises are believed to have been undergoing preparations to operate as an exclusive entertainment club equipped with multiple layers of security systems and tightly controlled access, believed to be aimed at restricting public entry and avoiding detection by enforcement authorities," he said in a statement on Friday (July 24).
Initial investigations revealed that most of the foreigners had entered Malaysia using social visit passes but were suspected of working without permission, in breach of their pass conditions, he said.
"We also identified several individuals believed to have overstayed their passes, while others failed to produce valid travel documents during inspections.
"Those detained were 78 Chinese men and 31 men from Bangladesh, Myanmar and India, aged between 30 and 43.
"They are being investigated for various offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963," he added.
Zakaria said all 109 detainees have been taken to an Immigration depot for further investigation.
"We also detained a Malaysian man believed to be the manager or person responsible for overseeing the presence of the foreign workers at the premises.
"In addition, a witness summons was issued to a supervisor from the building's Joint Management Body to assist in the investigation," he said.
Zakaria said the department would not compromise with taking action against foreigners involved in illegal business activities, overstaying or abusing their immigration passes.
He added that stern action would also be taken against employers and individuals found harbouring or employing undocumented migrants.
