630 foreigners detained in Malaysia, including 199 Bangladeshis

Malaysian immigration authorities have detained 630 foreign nationals, including 199 Bangladeshis, during a major raid at a construction site in Padang Meha, Kulim, in the state of Kedah.

The operation, dubbed ‘Ops Mega’, was conducted at around 11am on Monday, according to a statement issued by the Kedah state branch of Malaysia’s Immigration Department on Tuesday.

The raid was carried out based on intelligence and surveillance by the department’s Intelligence and Special Operations Division. A total of 159 immigration officers from various units and state branches participated in the operation.

Authorities checked the documents of 697 foreign nationals and Malaysians during the raid and detained 630 foreigners aged between 18 and 50. Of those detained, 622 were men and eight were women.

Among the detainees, 396 were Chinese nationals, including 391 men and five women, while 199 were Bangladeshis, including 198 men and one woman.

The remaining detainees included 10 Pakistani men, seven men from Myanmar, five Indian men, four Ghanaian men, three Nigerian men, two Kenyan men, two Indonesian women, one New Zealand man and one Senegalese man.

Various charges have been brought against the detainees under Malaysia’s immigration laws. Authorities also issued six summonses to obtain assistance from witnesses as part of the investigation.

During the operation, several detainees attempted to flee, with some hiding in dangerous locations and others climbing onto the roof of the unfinished building. Tensions also arose after a group of detainees allegedly behaved provocatively towards immigration officers, prompting officials to take swift action to bring the situation under control.

The Immigration Department warned employers, main contractors and subcontractors to ensure that all foreign workers possess valid travel documents and authorised passes or work permits. They were also instructed to comply with all immigration requirements.

The department said similar operations would continue to ensure the enforcement of the country’s immigration laws and action against those who violate them.