Latest news with #ImmigrationRegulations1963
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
114 undocumented migrants held in raids on Johor factories
JOHOR BARU: More than 100 foreign nationals have been arrested following multiple raids on factories across five districts in Johor. Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the detainees, aged between 21 and 55, were taken in during Ops Gempur Sasar on Wednesday (May 28). 'The raids, which focused on factories, were carried out simultaneously in Johor Baru, Muar, Segamat, Mersing and Batu Pahat. 'A total of 114 foreigners from eight countries were arrested in the raids after inspections were carried out on some 511 people,' he said in a statement on Friday (May 30). He said the suspects, including 10 women, were from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia. 'We also arrested four local men between 50 and 60 years old who are company owners and managers,' he said. Rusdi said the foreign nationals are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963, while the Malaysians are being investigated under Section 55E of the same Act for allowing undocumented foreigners to enter or stay in their premises. 'We have also issued notices to 10 individuals to report to the Immigration office to assist in the investigation,' he said.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
48 foreign workers caught in immigration sweep at Seberang Prai factories
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The state Immigration Department arrested 48 foreign workers for various immigration offences during a raid on two electronics manufacturing factories on Wednesday, nearly forcing operations to a halt. The targeted operation, carried out by the Penang Immigration Department, found that the workers had either overstayed their visas or violated the terms of their work permits by working in sectors or companies not stated in their documents. State Immigration Department director Syamsul Fitri Ahmad said a total of 103 foreigners working at the two factories were screened during the raid. "All 48 detained foreigners, aged between 20 and 49, were from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, India and China," he said. He reminded employers to adhere strictly to employment laws when hiring foreign workers. "We will continue consistent enforcement efforts, especially in high-risk sectors," he added. Those arrested have been taken to the Juru Immigration depot for further investigation under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Selayang slaughterhouses raided, 36 foreign workers detained
KUALA LUMPUR: Six chicken slaughterhouses at the Selayang Wholesale Market, mostly operated by foreigners, were raided in an integrated operation that led to the detention of 36 foreign men. The Immigration Department, in collaboration with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, found that most of the premises were operating in an unregulated manner, with floors covered in blood and chicken waste. "Only one of the premises was managed by a local, while the other five were believed to be fully operated by foreign workers. "During the raid, several workers attempted to flee but were successfully apprehended," the department said in a statement yesterday. It said a total of 36 foreign men, aged between 20 and 45, were detained for allegedly working without valid documents. The detainees comprised 25 Myanmar nationals, 10 Bangladeshis, and one Indonesian, including several individuals holding UNHCR cards. "All of them are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966, and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. "In addition, the department issued notices to four local men to assist with the investigation. The Immigration Department remains committed to ensuring that all business premises comply with the law and do not employ foreign workers illegally," it said. The raid was conducted in the early hours of the morning, around 1.45am, following public complaints and three weeks of intelligence gathering.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- New Straits Times
No warrant needed to raid premises hiring foreigners, says Immigration
KUALA TERENGGANU: The state Immigration department does not require a search warrant to raid premises suspected of hiring foreign workers, as its officers are authorised to carry out such duties. State Immigration director Mohd Yusri Mohd Nor said raids on premises suspected of employing foreigners were routine operations conducted by enforcement officers to verify documents and inspect those involved. "Business owners and factory operators should not dispute the actions taken by immigration officers if all foreign workers have valid documents and are not violating any laws," he said while leading Ops Gempur Sasar at three factories around Kuala Terengganu yesterday. He was responding to an incident during the operation in which a factory supervisor reprimanded a security guard for allowing the Immigration Department's enforcement team to enter the premises without management approval. During the seven-hour operation, which began at 10am, a total of 593 individuals, including 212 foreigners working at the three factories, were inspected. Following checks, seven foreigners, aged between 24 and 37, were arrested for misusing their passes or permits. The Nepali nationals were found to have committed offences under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. If convicted, they could face a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. A local individual, believed to be the employer, was issued a notice to report to the state Immigration Department to give a statement regarding the offence of employing undocumented migrants. Meanwhile, Mohd Yusri urged employers with undocumented foreign workers to voluntarily repatriate them under the Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 (PRM 2.0), which began on May 19 and will run until April 30 next year. He said 26 employers found guilty of hiring undocumented foreigners were fined a total of RM270,000 last year. "This year, six employers have been fined RM60,000 up to early May for employing undocumented migrants, while three other cases are pending court proceedings," he said. Mohd Yusri added that enforcement operations to arrest undocumented migrants and their employers would continue throughout the PRM 2.0 period.
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Grooming centre used as prostitution den busted
PETALING JAYA: A prostitution syndicate operating under the guise of men's grooming services was dismantled following two coordinated raids by the Immigration Department in Kuchai Lama and Bandar Sri Petaling on May 26. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said a total of 59 individuals were inspected during the operation, including three men, 45 foreign women and 11 local citizens. The raids, which began at 6pm, were conducted by 38 enforcement officers from the Putrajaya Immigration Enforcement Division after two weeks of surveillance. The department found that the foreign women, who had been operating in the area for the past two years, earned up to RM1,500 per day by providing sexual services to both local and foreign male clients. 'Three foreign men and 45 foreign women from Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Laos, aged between 23 and 35, were detained for various offences. Also detained were three local men suspected of acting as 'guardians',' he said in a statement issued Tuesday night. The detainees are being investigated for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966 and the Immigration Regulations 1963. They are currently being held at the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot pending further action. Zakaria revealed that the syndicate's modus operandi involved promoting grooming and facial treatment services for men while discreetly offering sexual services as part of the packages. Customers would book appointments via the WeChat messaging app, through which they were also provided with a catalogue of available foreign women. Each session reportedly cost between RM150 and RM250, depending on the type of service selected. 'The premises operated daily from 3pm to 2am. All the foreign women involved in the illegal activities were housed on-site, where dormitory-style rooms had been set up to accommodate them.' During the raids, investigators caught several of the women serving customers.
