Latest news with #OpsGempurSasar
The Star
30-05-2025
- 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
29-05-2025
- 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.
New Straits Times
08-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Immigration scoop nets 330 foreign workers in Johor raids
JOHOR BARU: A major enforcement crackdown across five districts in Johor has led to the arrest of 330 foreign workers for immigration-related offences during simultaneous raids on construction sites. Also detained was a Malaysian man, 50, believed to be the construction site manager, on the suspicion of harbouring the migrants. The operation, codenamed Ops Gempur Sasar, was launched simultaneously at 10.30am in Johor Baru, Muar, Segamat, Mersing and Batu Pahat, targeting high-risk sectors with a focus on construction sites. Johor Immigration director, Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said a total of 516 individuals, including Malaysians, were checked in the large-scale operation, that saw the involvement of 120 enforcement officers. "From the inspections, 239 Bangladeshi men, 65 Indonesians including four women, 24 Myanmar-national men, a Pakistani man and a Vietnamese man, aged between 20 and 57, were detained for various immigration offences," he said in a statement today. The 50-year-old Malaysian construction site manager in Johor Baru, was detained for allegedly harbouring illegal immigrants under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, Rusdi said. All foreigner arrested are investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963. They are currently detained at the Pekan Nenas Immigration Depot. The department also issued 13 notices for individuals to present themselves at the Immigration office to assist in further investigations. Rusdi said enforcement against the hiring and harbouring undocumented migrants will continue relentlessly. "We will not compromise with employers, premises owners, or individuals who provide protection or employment to undocumented migrants," he said. Ops Gempur Sasar is part of a nationwide targeted enforcement strategy to tackle the rising issue of undocumented foreigners and ensure compliance with the country's immigration laws.
