ISKANDAR PUTERI: State immigration enforcement officers detained 44 foreigners including two men, in a raid at an entertainment centre operating from a three-storey shop lot, here on Friday.
The foreign women comprised 40 Thais, an Indonesian, one Myanmar national, while two men from China and Bangladesh, aged between 25 and 45, were also detained for numerous immigration violations including abusing their social visit passes by working and overstaying.
The 12.10am raid was launched following a public-tip off that foreigners were engaging in immoral activities at the club.
State Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir said the women were employed as 'Flower Girls' to entertain male patrons.
The term 'Flower Girls' were coined as the women had flowers pinned to their blouse, while they danced provocatively entertaining the patrons.
It is learnt, if the patrons wanted to take the 'entertainment a step further', they would be required to pay a fee of up to RM500, by purchasing the flowers.
Otherwise, the fee to entertain guests at their respective tables, was priced at RM50 onwards.
The foreign men are suspected to have managed the counters.
Baharuddin said the foreigners were stationed at the third floor of the premises and received payments ranging between RM50 and RM500 for their services.
Action will be taken against the detainees under Section 15 (1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) for overstaying and Regulation 11(7)(a) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for abusing their Social Visit Pass.
Meanwhile, in an operation codenamed Ops Cegah, 63 foreigners were detained in a series of raids between March 13 and 17, in 26 premises in Johor Baru.
The owners were suspected of employing foreigners without valid working permits.
Among those detained were nine Nepalese men, eight Indian nationals, 21 Bangladeshi men, six Pakistani men, seven Indonesians including five women and a Filipino woman.
Also detained were 11 Myanmar nationals including four women, a girl and a boy aged between three and 61.
Eight locals were also slapped with notice of attendance.