Semenyih: The Immigration Department (JIM) has arrested seven individuals, including an employer holding Permanent Resident (MyPR) status, for suspected involvement in managing and supplying foreign workers without authorisation. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban announced that the arrests were made during a special operation by the department headquarters' Intelligence and Special Operations Division at two locations in Semenyih, Selangor.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the operation, which followed a month of intelligence gathering, led to the arrest of a Bangladeshi man believed to be the company owner and employer, along with four other Bangladeshi men, a Bangladeshi woman, and a Thai woman, aged between 27 and 57. Initial checks revealed that the Bangladeshi employer holds MyPR status, while one Bangladeshi man holds a Student Pass and the Thai woman holds a Temporary Employment Visit Pass as a restaurant worker. The remaining foreign nationals were found to be without valid passes or travel documents to remain in the country.
The authorities also seized 31 Bangladeshi passports, a Thai passport, copies of Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) documents, and RM48,524 in cash. Zakaria stated that the syndicate allegedly managed and supplied foreign workers without valid authorisation, primarily targeting employers in the Klang Valley who required foreign labour. These activities were hidden behind business premises and a food outlet to evade detection, with fees for managing and renewing passes amounting to RM4,000 per person.
The employer is under investigation under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act 1966 and Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63. One Bangladeshi man and the Thai woman are being investigated under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, while the remaining foreign nationals face investigations under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. All suspects have been taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further action, with a local man, three local women, and a Bangladeshi man issued notices to assist in the investigation.
Zakaria emphasized that JIM would continue to intensify enforcement operations and take stern action against immigration offenders.