Sepang: The Immigration Department detained 13 foreign nationals yesterday for allegedly operating businesses and misusing their Social Visit Passes by working at several premises in Sepang, Selangor. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the arrests were made by the department's Putrajaya Enforcement Division during an operation at 10.20 am, involving 10 Indonesian nationals comprising eight men and two women as well as three Bangladeshi men.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, all the individuals were detained after checks at six business premises, including grocery stores and mini-markets. Zakaria stated that the detained individuals are suspected of running business activities and abusing their Social Visit Passes by working at the premises.

"Our operations do not only target business premises suspected of being owned by foreigners, but also offences related to the misuse of passes by foreign nationals," he said in a statement today. He further explained that most of the businesses used licences registered under the names of Malaysian citizens but were operated entirely by foreigners.

"This includes online payments made via QR codes into bank accounts suspected of belonging to foreign nationals. Several premises were also found to be selling products and goods specifically catered to foreign customers, particularly Bangladeshi nationals," Zakaria added.

He mentioned that all the foreign nationals have been detained at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for further investigation. They are suspected of committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passports Act 1966, and the Immigration Regulations 1963.

Zakaria concluded that the department will continue to take stringent action against any parties found committing offences under these laws, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM).