MELAKA IMMIGRATION DETAINS 170 ILLEGALS IN CONSTRUCTION SITE CRACKDOWN

MELAKA, May 7 (Bernama) -- A total of 170 illegal foreign workers were detained by the Melaka Immigration Department during an operation at two construction sites in Batu Berendam and Kota Laksamana today.

State Immigration director Anirwan Fauzee Mohd Aini said those arrested, aged 25 to 40, were from various countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and China.

“In the operation, we screened 215 foreign workers, including nine Malaysians for allegedly harbouring illegal immigrants.

“There was also a brief chase at one of the sites when several workers attempted to flee by hiding on rooftops and behind piles of cement,” he told reporters  at Kota Laksamana here today after the two-hour operation involving 68 department personnel ended.

The illegals were charged with offences such as not possessing valid identification documents, violating the terms of work visit passes, overstaying, and using unrecognised identification cards, he said, adding that two summonses were issued to employers at both construction sites.

The detainees are being investigated investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966, and Immigration Regulations 1963, and have been sent to Machap Umboo Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation and follow-up action, he said.

-- BERNAMA