KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 31 undocumented foreigners were detained following an operation in the city centre.
They were detained under an operation codenamed Ops Kutip near Suria KLCC and Pavillion, Bukit Bintang, on Saturday night.
Immigration Department deputy director-general (operations) Jafri Embok Taha said those detained, aged between 19 and 50, were suspected to have committed various offences including abusing their passes to conduct business.
“The operation, which began at about 9.30pm with the cooperation of the National Registration Department, involved 46 officers and personnel.
“We conducted raids at these two locations following public complaints on the high numbers of illegal foreigners in the areas,” he told a press conference at the scene.
Jafri said they conducted surveillance and intelligence gathering for about a week before the operation.
“We checked 120 foreigners and detained 31 of them, including two women,” he said.
“A total of 24 illegals were detained near KLCC while another seven were held near Pavillion.
“Those detained were eight Bangladeshi nationals, six Indian nationals, four each from Indonesia, Pakistan and Nepal, three from the Philippines and one each from Afghanistan and Syria.”
All the detainees will be taken to the Kuala Lumpur Immigration office for documentation purposes.
“Those found to have committed offences will be held at the Immigration depot in Bukit Jalil for further action,” he said.
Asked about foreigners who operate food stalls on the sidewalks, he said it is an offence if they do not have a valid permit.
“Checks showed most of them had abused their passes and working permits.
“They were supposed to enter the country to work in a certain sector but ended up working in another field.
“We will not compromise with foreigners who commit offences or employers who harbour illegals,” Jafri said.
Meanwhile, a Bangladeshi man was released by enforcement officers after he claimed that items for sale at a stall in the city centre belonged to a friend.
The man said he was only helping to keep an eye on the flower shop while his friend went to the toilet.
“I came to Kuala Lumpur for a visit, not to sell items,” he said.
Several individuals were also observed not giving cooperation, including attempting to escape when Immigration officers asked for their documents.
However, their attempts were thwarted as the officers had the area well surrounded.
