45 Foreigners Held In Selangor As Immigration Dept Ramps Up Action Against Illegal Hiring

PUTRAJAYA, April 24 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department (JIM) has intensified enforcement action against employers who persistently employ illegal immigrants, with the detention of 45 foreigners in simultaneous operations at several locations around Selangor yesterday.

Its director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, said 88 individuals were inspected during the operation, comprising 66 foreigners and 22 Malaysians, following public complaints and intelligence gathered over the past two weeks.

“Of those inspected, 45 individuals, comprising nationals from Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Nepal and Indonesia and aged between 29 and 50, were arrested on suspicion of committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Ac 155) and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963,” he said in a statement today.

He said all those detained have been placed at the Semenyih Immigration Detention Centre, adding that it also issued nine witness summonses (Form 29) to Malaysians to assist in investigations related to offences of employing foreign workers illegally.

“JIM stresses that enforcement actions are not only focused on foreign workers who break the law, but also employers who are stubborn, negligent and deliberately hire undocumented migrants,” he said.

Yesterday’s simultaneous operations were conducted at eight separate locations, involving three premises in Semenyih, two in Seri Kembangan and one each in Jenjarom, Cheras and Serdang.

The operation, involving 52 personnel, was aimed at combating and curbing employers who continue to fail to comply with current government policies and regulations regarding the employment of foreign workers. 

-- BERNAMA