According to foreign media reports, Malaysia detained a total of 158 illegal immigrants, including Sri Lankans, for residing in the country without valid visas or permits and overstaying their allowed duration.
Citing Perak Immigration Director Meor Hezbullah Meor Abdul Malik, the Malaysian National News Agency ‘Bernama’ stated that the illegal immigrants were apprehended during a raid conducted at the Bercham Flats in Perak.
The detainees comprised 83 men, 54 women, 8 boys, and 3 girls, ranging in age from 9 to 60 years, hailing from Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
“Most of these individuals were renting apartments from local landlords. Approximately 560 units in 15 blocks were inspected during the operation,” Meor Hezbullah was quoted as saying on Saturday (March 15).
Reportedly, one of the detainees, a 50-year-old Indonesian, had been working as a house cleaner without a permit for a year.
The woman from Sumatra was among the 158 individuals apprehended during a joint operation dubbed ‘Op Pintu,’ involving 160 individuals from the state immigration department and Ulu Kinta General Operations Force, conducted in the early hours of the day.
Meor Hezbullah warned local homeowners against renting their properties to foreigners without proper authorization, emphasizing that such actions could lead to charges under Section 55(E) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. This offense carries a maximum fine of RM 30,000 or imprisonment for up to 12 months or both.
Furthermore, he stated that following the recent arrests, the department would investigate every homeowner who rented their units to undocumented immigrants.
