Johor Bahru: The Johor Immigration Department detained 130 foreign nationals and two local employers in an integrated operation in several districts in Johor last Friday. Its director, Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus, stated that his team arrested 90 foreign nationals, aged 21 to 54, after inspections at 18 premises, including factories and worker accommodations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, in Batu Pahat, nine foreign nationals and two local employers were detained during Op Gegar at a reflexology centre, while in Mersing, 12 foreign nationals, aged 18 to 55, were apprehended in various locations. Additionally, 12 foreign nationals, aged 21 to 43, were arrested in Muar, and seven foreign nationals, aged 23 to 40, were caught in Segamat during raids on three reflexology centres.
The foreign nationals detained in this operation included 36 Bangladeshi men, 23 Myanmar men and five women, 17 Indonesian men and 17 women, 15 Pakistani men, six Vietnamese women, five Thai women, four Chinese women, and two Indian men. Mohd Rusdi explained that all the foreign nationals were detained due to offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963. They will be placed in the Pekan Nenas Immigration Depot for further action.
A total of 12 notices to appear at the Immigration office have been issued to assist in the investigation. The Immigration Department in the state will not compromise with employers, premises owners, and individuals who hire and protect illegal immigrants (PATI), he said.
In another development, a total of 105 foreign nationals, aged 18 to 54, were arrested in an operation codenamed Op Sapu, conducted at workers' quarters in Batu Pahat between 1 am and 3 am yesterday. During the operation, 329 foreign nationals were inspected. Those detained included 77 Bangladesh men, 16 Indonesian men and seven women, two Myanmar men, two Pakistani men, and an Indian national. They were believed to have committed offences under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having a valid pass or permit to stay in Malaysia and Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act for overstaying.