Johor bahru: In efforts to combat the misuse of work passes and permits among foreign nationals, the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) in Johor arrested 32 individuals in a series of enforcement operations around Johor Bahru and Batu Pahat on Oct 13. Johor JIM director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus stated that the operations, conducted alongside the Batu Pahat Branch Enforcement Unit, included Ops Selera, Ops Minyak, and Ops Sapu, targeting food premises, car wash centers, and residential areas identified as hotspots for immigration law violations.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, these operations were the culmination of a week of continuous intelligence gathering and information received from the public through the official complaint channels of the Malaysian Immigration Department. Datuk Mohd Rusdi elaborated that a total of 96 foreign nationals were checked during these operations, resulting in the arrest of 32 individuals for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.

The arrested individuals were found to be without valid travel documents or passports, misusing temporary work visit passes, working without valid permits, and overstaying in the country. The detainees include five Bangladeshi men, five Indian men, one Pakistani man, four Myanmar men, eight Indonesian men, eight Indonesian women, and one Myanmar woman, aged between 19 and 52.

Datuk Mohd Rusdi confirmed that all detainees have been placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for investigations and further action. Additionally, four copies of Form 29 (witness summons) have been issued to facilitate the investigation.

He expressed gratitude towards the public for their cooperation and concern regarding the issue of foreign nationals in the state. "We welcome any information related to the offence of protecting illegal immigrants (PATI), human trafficking, and migrant smuggling to eradicate these activities comprehensively," he added.