The Malaysian Immigration Department is investigating viral allegations of illegal migrant settlements in Setia Alam and may conduct a coordinated operation if confirmed.
KLANG: The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) is investigating allegations of the existence of illegal migrant settlements in the Setia Alam area, Shah Alam, near here, despite enforcement actions having been taken in early April.
Its director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said a coordinated operation, involving other related agencies, will be carried out if the investigation findings confirm the allegations.
“We need to conduct an investigation and ensure whether what is going viral is true or not, before we can take action. So these settlements are under our investigation, and we also need to consider the jurisdiction.
“… for example, the mistake of building houses in certain areas is beyond JIM’s jurisdiction. What we see is that we might conduct an integrated operation together with other agencies such as the local authorities (PBT) and the Land and District Office, all of which we will take into account,” he said.
Zakaria said this when met by reporters after inspecting the Integrated Enforcement Operation at the Kapar Bestari Industrial Park here today.
Previously, the media had reported that hundreds of illegal settlements, possibly inhabited by thousands of foreign nationals, continue to exist in the suburban areas of Shah Alam despite repeated raids and enforcement actions.
The report, which also cited surveys in Persiaran Setia Makmur, Setia Alam, and Jalan Hamzah, Kampung Budiman, found that illegal settlements were built in palm oil plantation areas, raising questions about the effectiveness of ongoing enforcement efforts.
