KUALA TERENGGANU: Hundreds of foreigners have "flooded" the Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT) bus terminal here, today.
Checks found that foreign workers, mostly from Bangladesh, who work in Hulu Terengganu, visited several mini markets in front of the council bus terminal on Jalan Syed Hussin here, at about 10am today.
Apart from shopping for necessities, money changers also become their point of interest, as well as the restaurants managed by foreign workers here.
They also visited small retail stores selling all sorts of essentials, including electrical appliances.
Most of them hop on the bus, use e-hailing services or "kereta sapu" to get to town, taking advantage of the Chinese New Year holidays.
Resident Badrulhisham Salleh, 44, was surprised to see that the bus terminal was filled with foreigners.
"I had to compete with them to board the bus to Kuala Terengganu city to shop.
"They went to several grocery stores and restaurants, including money changers in front of the terminal," he said.
Jamariah Abdullah, a housewife aged 42, was also surprised to see the entire bus terminal area and business premises filled with foreigners.
Meanwhile Terengganu Immigration Department Azhar Abd Hamid said they conducted constant monitoring of the area.
"We will conduct operations periodically, especially in areas with a high concentration of foreigners.
"Although there were no operations in the area yesterday and today, our plainclothes officers were sent to monitor.
"We have received information about the area being filled with foreigners and follow-up action will be taken," he said when contacted by Berita Harian today.
Azhar added that his department had conducted 102 operations across the state since January, examining 1,400 foreigners.
They also penalised 209 foreigners for various offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63.