KOTA BARU: Four children were among nearly 300 undocumented foreigners caught by state enforcement agencies in a special operation codenamed 'Ops Kutip' carried out in the town area today.
The operation in an area now referred to as Kelantan's 'Mini Dhaka', was jointly carried out between the Immigration department, the police and Kota Baru Municipal Council.
It covered Kota Baru areas which included Jalan Hilir Pasar and Jalan Dato Pati, involving some 100 officers.
The children, aged between two and four, all Myanmar nationals, were brought by their fathers to shop at a sundry store on Jalan Pasar Hilir when they were caught.
Besides the Myanmar nationals, the other foreigners who were arrested in the
two-hour operation which ended at 11.30am, were from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
The operation was headed by Kelantan Immigration deputy director (for management) Nik Akhtarulhaq Nik Abduk Rahman and was assisted by the department's enforcement division chief Ruzaana Mohamed.
Nik Akhtarulhaq said a total of 238 foreigners were arrested and believed to have committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Among the offences, he said, were entering Malaysia without valid travel documents, overstaying and others.
It is learnt that the area was among the main hotspots in Kelantan for foreigners to gather during weekends.
The raids were held following several video clips showing Kelantan's Mini Dhaka which went viral recently.
The operations were conducted at sundry shops, at the markets and also on rural buses that stopped at an old bus station in Jalan Dato Pati.
Many foreigners residing in Kelantan chose to travel to Kota Baru today as they would have the day off, on a Friday.
After the operation, the foreigners were brought to the Kota Baru police station in several police trucks.
Meanwhile, locals praised the local enforcement agencies for conducting the raids.
A restaurant owner who only wishes to be known as Ibrahim said foreigners have been using the area as their hub for many years.
"As a local, l am happy that authorities were willing to conduct this raid. Many locals here are not comfortable with their presence," said the 50-year-old when met by reporters here today.