KOTA KINABALU: Seven China nationals have been arrested for misusing their social visit pass to work at a resort construction site in Semporna.
The seven were nabbed together with four Filipinos by an Immigration Department enforcement team at the site in Sabah's popular diving haven on Tuesday (Oct 15).
Sabah Immigration director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the department was identifying the owners of the resort under construction for further action.
On Oct 4, Semporna police said they received five reports from local tour operators that China nationals were abusing their visit passes to work in the district.
Police said the local operators were unhappy as this could give the tourism sector a bad image.
The case was also referred to the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, they added.
Sitti Saleha said the department will not compromise when it comes to foreigners overstaying or abusing their visit passes.
"We will also act against locals employing or harbouring them," she added.
The arrests came during a 48-hour operation in Semporna and neighbouring Lahad Datu district that ended at 4.30am on Wednesday (Oct 16).
Sitti Saleha said a total of 149 Filipinos and Indonesians, aged between one and 79, were detained for various Immigration offences in Lahad Datu including entering the state illegally.
She said the arrests were made at two squatter colonies in Lahad Datu and workers' quarters of a quarry company.
She said two locals were also arrested on suspicion of harbouring illegal immigrants.
All the foreigners were sent to the Tawau Immigration Depot for investigation and further action.
