Kedah Immigration Detains 122 Foreign Nationals In Padang Meha Industrial Area

ALOR SETAR, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- The Kedah Immigration Department (JIM) detained 122 foreign nationals through ‘Operasi Mahir’ at a company in the Padang Meha Industrial Area, near Padang Serai, yesterday.

Its director, Mohd Ridzzuan Mohd Zain said the operation, involving the department’s enforcement division, began at 9 am and was based on his team’s surveillance as well as public complaints received by the department.

“The operation team checked 214 individuals, including locals. As a result of the inspection, a total of 122 individuals, comprising 121 men and one woman of various nationalities, aged between 22 and 56 years, were detained.

“All of them were taken to the Belantik Immigration Depot for investigation and further action according to procedures. Initial investigations found a small number of passports belonging to the detained foreign nationals, while the remaining passports (of those detained) have yet to be produced by their company's management,” he said in a statement today.

He said the security stamps on most passports also raised doubts about their authenticity and required further checks through the JIM system.

“The operation team also detected the absence of the 'Letter of Agreement' (LOA) between the construction company and the company responsible for supplying the workers. Further checks on the Temporary Work Visit Pass Permit (PLKS) found that the permit was only valid for companies registered in Kuala Lumpur and approved by JIM only.

“The company also failed to keep any employee documentation at the human resources office for further verification purposes. We also need to examine and check the passport holder’s travel records through the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) system, since the existing records only display exit and entry stamps without destination details,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ridzzuan also said that his team would continue a thorough investigation that would include verifying the authenticity of passports, checking travel records, and confirming the relationship between the employer and employee.

"We will not compromise on any party found to be employing or protecting illegal immigrants. Entrepreneurs and employers must always ensure that the foreign workers they hire have valid documents and passes, and comply with the conditions that have been set," he added.

-- BERNAMA