-min.png)
In the early hours of the morning, the Immigration Department conducted a successful operation in Setia Alam, near an illegal settlement within an oil palm plantation area, resulting in the arrest of 132 undocumented migrants. Jafri Embok Taha, the Immigration deputy director-general (Operations), disclosed that among those apprehended were 130 Indonesians, comprising 76 men, 41 women, and 13 children, one of whom was just a nine-month-old baby. Additionally, two Bangladeshi men were taken into custody.
The operation, commencing at 2:38 am, was prompted by intelligence reports and complaints received by the department, revealing that the settlement had been in existence for the past four years, complete with electricity. Investigations disclosed that the foreigners were believed to be renting the area from local residents, who also supplied electricity to the settlement. The village chief claimed they collectively paid approximately RM6,000 monthly for the rental of 0.6 hectares of land.
Within this illicit settlement, sundry shops, food stalls, and a surau were discovered, indicating a well-established community. The majority of these undocumented migrants were found to be employed as cleaners, restaurant assistants, and construction workers in the surrounding areas.
Jafri explained that none of the foreigners had valid travel documents, and they had overstayed in the country. The enforcement operation, involving 220 members and officers from various agencies, encountered resistance, with some individuals climbing onto roofs or locking themselves indoors to evade arrest.
The operation fell under the jurisdiction of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and Jafri mentioned that a further review would be conducted under Section 55E (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 regarding action against the landowner. He also issued a reminder to the public and employers not to harbor illegal immigrants, emphasizing the potential legal consequences.
This incident underscores the persistent challenges of illegal settlements and the necessity for stringent enforcement to address the issue. As authorities continue to crack down on undocumented migrants, it serves as a warning to both the foreign population and those who might consider providing refuge to them. The collaborative effort of various agencies highlights the commitment to maintaining the integrity of immigration laws and safeguarding national security.
Evon Anak Jerim is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
