A crackdown by the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department on Friday night resulted in the arrest of 45 foreign workers from eight well-known Arab eateries in Bukit Bintang. The operation, which started at 10:40 p.m., led to the detainment of 40 men and five women, ranging in age from 21 to 45, who were employed at the restaurants.
Immigration Director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff confirmed that the workers hailed from various countries, including Yemen (14), Syria (7), Pakistan (4), Bangladesh (10), Egypt (4), Indonesia (3), Afghanistan (1), the Philippines (1), and Myanmar (1). He explained that the detainees had violated immigration laws, including misuse of work passes, lack of valid work permits, and possession of expired documents.
The raid, which involved 35 immigration officers and staff, was prompted by public complaints about the illegal employment of foreign workers in the popular Bukit Bintang area. Wan Mohammed Saupee highlighted that intelligence gathering and surveillance efforts had also thwarted attempts by some workers to disguise themselves as customers during the operation.
The workers were taken to the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot for further processing. The case is being investigated under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. The Immigration Department continues to monitor illegal foreign employment in Malaysia as part of its ongoing enforcement efforts.
The raid serves as a reminder of the government’s commitment to addressing immigration violations and ensuring the legal employment of foreign workers in the country.
Source: The Star (MY)
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
