KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 71 illegal immigrants were nabbed by the Immigration Department in a raid on a 30-year-old apartment complex, which has become a colony, in Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang this afternoon.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration director Wan Mohamed Saupee Wan Yusoff said that the joint operation, conducted with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the police, was initiated following complaints from the apartment's residents.
"The raid revealed that foreigners were residing in apartment units, with up to 20 individuals cramped into a single unit. These units are highly unsuitable for living, due to poor cleanliness, leaking pipes, and unpleasant odours," he explained to reporters at the apartment following the operation.
Wan Mohamed Saupee reported that those arrested included 56 men and 13 women, aged between one and 56 years old, from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Indonesia, and Thailand.
"Owners of units rented out to foreigners have also been identified and will be contacted and investigated for harbouring illegal immigrants," he added.
Meanwhile, DBKL development technical division head Azmi Mohd Saaid said that their team had demolished unauthorised wall constructions in 27 apartment units rented to foreigners during the operation.
"This building remains open, as the structure is deemed safe for occupation, but DBKL will issue a notice to the joint management committee and unit owners regarding the infractions and instruct them to clean the apartment area," he stated.
Regarding the odour issue, Azmi noted that the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleaning Corporation (SWCorp) had attempted to resolve it previously, but the problem persisted as foreign tenants were disposing of waste improperly.
The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, and those detained have been taken to the Kuala Lumpur Immigration headquarters for further investigation.
A survey revealed that apartment units rented to foreigners were modified from three to six rooms, with rentals as low as RM100 per person and RM300 to RM600 per room.
Local resident Nurul Nizam Azhar, 41, remarked, "Even though the apartment smells bad and is in poor condition, I decided to rent here since last year due to the cheap rent of about RM300 a month.
"The stench is overwhelming whenever I go home. This apartment is already in bad condition, and the leaking sewage system adds to the odour. The situation has worsened because many foreigners live here," he said. – Bernama
