PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department has busted a syndicate that has been making money from the government's Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK).
The syndicate, masterminded by a 42-year-old Bangladeshi holding Malaysian permanent resident (MyPR) status, is believed to have earned more than RM2 million from the illegal activities he started.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said two raids under Op Khas were conducted on June 8 at Jalan Lumut in Kuala Lumpur and Pandan Cahaya in Ampang, by its Intelligence and Special Operations Division, with six individuals arrested.
At the first premises (in Jalan Lumut), the man was arrested with his wife, a Malaysian.
Khairul Dzaimee said the man was granted MyPR status on Feb 18, 2015.
"Modus operandi of this syndicate is to set up a construction company and an illegal employment agency to hide from the authorities and convince customers for the recruitment of foreign workers, especially under the RTK programme, which was launched in 2021.
"Based on two-month observations, the construction company has been operating since 2014 and is suspected of carrying out activities as an agent in managing foreign worker applications under RTK by charging between RM3,500 to RM4,200 per application," he told a press conference today.
In the second raid (in Pandan Cahaya), a 36-year-old local woman and her husband, a Bangladeshi, holding a Malaysian long-term visit pass was arrested.
"Also arrested were two Bangladeshi men, who were suspected of acting as intermediaries between the company and the customers."
He said during the two raids, the department confiscated 488 international passports; namely Bangladesh (457), Indonesia (eight), India (eight), Pakistan (eight), Myanmar (six) and Nepal (one).
"Also confiscated were 12 company seals, two sets of computers as well as RM38,308 in cash.
"Based on the fee imposed and the number of passports confiscated, this syndicate is believed to have made more than RM2million."
Khairul Dzaimee said all suspects, who were taken to the Immigration Department here, will be investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1965, as well as under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966.