A DBKL enforcement officer sealing a clothing shop at a wholesale centre in Pudu after it was found to have been operated by a foreigner without the necessary permits.
A CITYWIDE operation to clamp down on foreigner-run and illegal businesses will continue, after four raids were conducted over the past week.
In Jalan Imbi, Bukit Bintang, nine premises run by Bangladesh nationals selling clothes and phone accessories as well as restaurants were shut down and 10 compounds issued.
Out of the nine premises, six were operating without a business licence and three were found to have employed foreign workers without permits, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said in a statement.
At a wholesale centre in Pudu, 15 clothing shops operated by Bangladesh, Indonesia and Myanmar nationals were raided and 14 of them were sealed.
Fifteen compounds were also issued — five for operating without a business licence and 10 for employing foreign workers without permits.
The operation was conducted after a week-long investigation by DBKL enforcement officers.
“Notices will be issued to owners of premises for allowing foreigners to run the outlets without approval,” DBKL said in the statement.
In Setapak, seven premises operated by foreigners — some of whom were United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees cardholders — were sealed and had their items confiscated.
Seven compounds were issued to the premises including a barber, furniture shop, car wash as well as tailoring businesses.
In a Bukit Bintang shopping centre, 14 premises selling clothes, phone, computer accessories and home appliances were raided.
Eleven premises were ordered to cease operations immediately after they were found to have employed 27 foreign workers in total.
A DBKL spokesperson told StarMetro that more commercial areas have been earmarked for spot checks in the coming weeks.
“We intended to do this much earlier but our efforts were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic as most premises were shut.
“Now that businesses have reopened, we will crack down on those operated by foreigners,” he said, adding that DBKL was working with the immigration and national registration departments.
