PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Immigration Department detained 174 foreign nationals and six local employers during enforcement operations in Seri Kembangan and Bandar Baru Klang, Selangor, on Wednesday (Oct 7).
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said officials checked 307 individuals, comprising 121 locals and 186 foreigners.
"Following the checks, 174 foreigners comprising Myanmar nationals, 29 Indonesians, 11 Thais, 10 Vietnamese, seven each from China and India, five Bangladeshis, two each from Laos and Nepal, and one each from Cambodia and Nigeria were detained for various offences.
"Among the offences identified were pass abuse, overstaying, and lacking valid travel documents," he said in a statement on Thursday (Oct 8).
Zakaria said the department also detained six local employers under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63. It also issued 17 witness notices or Form 29, to several customers present at the scene.
He said all the foreign nationals, aged between two and 46, were detained and sent to the Semenyih Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation and action under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
Zakaria said the Putrajaya Immigration Department Enforcement Division conducted the operation at nine locations, starting at 7.30pm, after receiving public complaints and two weeks of intelligence gathering.
He added 149 officers of various ranks were deployed to business premises suspected of illegal activities, including employing and harbouring unauthorised foreign workers.
He also said that as of Wednesday, 1,880 employers have been detained, with total fines collected amounting to RM41mil.
"The Immigration Department will not compromise with foreign nationals who reside illegally, overstay, or abuse their passes in this country, and stern action will be taken against any party employing or harbouring illegal immigrants," he said.- Bernama
