KUALA LUMPUR: Jalan Silang used to be one of the most crowded areas in the city centre but it is deserted after yesterday's big raid by police
A survey by the New Straits Times at the street called "mini Dhaka", a term coined by the locals due to the influx of foreigners in the area, showed a sombre atmosphere. It was definitely not 'business as usual.'
A foreigner, who declined to be named admitted that his friends are still afraid to walk around Jalan Silang after what happened yesterday.
"I think they are still afraid to come here and some of my friends even refused to go to work today despite having legal documents," he briefly said.
As the NST continued to stroll around the place, one of the local food stall owners casually said "they're not here anymore," signifying the absence of foreigners in the locality.
Although businesses continued at the food stall, the amount of customers and passers-by decreased dramatically.
Yesterday, it was reported that two children were among the 1,101 immigrants that were detained during a raid conducted by various agencies led by the General Operations Force at Jalan Silang.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Seri Allaudeen Abdul Majid said the operation, which involved 1,138 officers from the force, was conducted to curb the influx of foreigners who filled the streets of Jalan Silang, who owned businesses and worked without permits in the middle of the country's capital.
He had also said the authorities seized 100 cartons of cigarettes worth RM 22,000, 90 cartons of alcoholic drinks worth RM48,000, and unapproved medicines worth RM34,530.