KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) raided illegal businesses operated by foreigners in and around the federal capital and sealed the premises.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan said acting on public tip-off, the DBKL enforcement team has so far shut down at least 51 premises run by foreigners since the Movement Control Order (MCO) began on March 18.
"Check at these premises showed that they were either operating without a valid licence, or on another person's name to deceive the authorities," he said.
He said the premises operated by foreigners after being raided were sealed with immediate effect in accordance with Section 101 (v) of the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171).
"There are more than 50 other premises believed to be run by foreigners which were closely monitored before our team moved in on them.
"The premises ordered to shut down would be monitored closely to make sure they do not open after a while," Nor Hisham said.
He added that DBKL enforcement officers will continue to raid premises found to be run by foreigners without licence and those being operated illegally or under other circumstances.
On Monday, DBKL closed six business premises operating around PKNS flat in Jalan Tun Razak and at Jalan Khoo Teik Ee in Bukit Bintang, after foreigners were found running the show at all six premises.
Nor Hisham said two grocery shops and two mobile phone shops were among the six ordered to close.
"All of these premises were operated by foreigners who have abused their employment permits. Some of them have valid work permits but the sector does not match the work they are doing.
"For instance, the foreigner's work permit might be for construction or general labour but in reality the man is actually running a mobile phone repair shop," Nor Hisham said.
He also said that DBKL feels very encouraged by the tip-off that they have been getting via their hotline number and social media platforms.
"It has been very useful. These public tip-off allows DBKL to act faster and helps officers to be more precise in our raids," he said.