KUALA LUMPUR: Another 370 foreigners believed to be immigrants were inspected and more than 100 were detained in a joint operation organised by Malaysian Immigration Department in Brickfields area today.
The raids involved 30 shophouses and business premises near Jalan Thamby Abdullah at 1pm, and was jointly carried out by 207 Immigration, 11 National Registration Department and six Civil Defence personnel to weed out illegals.
Malaysian Immigration Deputy Director (Operations) Jafri Embok Taha, who was met at the scene, said the operation is part of an ongoing crackdown against illegal immigrants as well as in response to complaints the department received.
"The raid today is a result of local residents' complaints about the influx of foreigners, poor hygiene practices and fear of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the vicinity.
The complaints also said that some of the accommodations these immigrants lived in were not conducive and post an imminent threat to the others staying in the area.
"Among others unkept water tanks, which have become a breeding ground for aedes mosquito and some of the shop houses had been turned into kongsi-like houses to accommodate more occupants were also discovered during the operation," he said.
He said checks also showed these illegal extensions did not follow the safety measures and officers suspect that the occupants have also meddled with the electricity system to channel free supply to some of these houses.
"The detainees include individuals from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
"Among the offenses committed by those detained were overstaying, lack of identification documents, and misuse of social visit passes," he said during a press conference at the location.
He said all those detained age between 25 to 71 years old have been taken to the Semenyih Immigration Detention Depot for further action.
"They are all investigated under the Immigration Act 1958/63, Passport Act 1966, Immigration Regulations 1963, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (ATIPSOM) 2007," he said.
"If any business operators are found to hire or harbor illegal immigrants, they too can get into trouble," he added.
Last month, 1,000 members and officers of the General Operations Force (PGA) surrounded 'mini Dhaka' at Jalan Silang today.
Reporters following the operation found that at least 500 foreigners were detained as of 1pm.