Kuala Lumpur immigration operation at Chow Kit bazaar detained 124 illegal immigrants following public complaints about foreigner influx and illegal business activities.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department detained 124 illegal immigrants during an integrated operation at a wholesale shopping centre in Jalan Chow Kit today.
The operation from 12.30pm to 2pm followed public complaints regarding illegal business activities and a swarm of foreigners.
Department director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said officials checked 205 individuals and detained 124 undocumented immigrants aged 20 to 29.
Those detained comprised 59 Pakistanis, 37 Bangladeshis, 12 Indonesians, 10 Myanmars, five Indians and one Thai.
“Initial investigations show many foreigners were abusing their work pass conditions by having residential addresses outside KL, in Kelantan, Johor, Melaka and Penang,” he said after the operation.
He noted some claimed to be on holiday but authorities believe this was an evasive tactic while actually working there.
Investigations also involve the employers who hired them, he added.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall issued six compound notices and ordered the closure of several outlets for operating without licences and hiring foreigners.
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living issued seven compounds totalling RM6,500 mainly for failing to display price tags.
Companies Commission of Malaysia corporate compliance division director Norhaiza Jemon said 115 business premises were inspected with 25 offences detected.
