In a dramatic sweep across Bukit Bintang last night, Malaysian Immigration officers apprehended 770 undocumented migrants, despite their desperate attempts to evade capture by hiding under beds, ducking behind furniture, and even climbing onto rooftops.
The two-hour operation, codenamed Op Belanja, began at 7:30 pm and involved 106 officers from the Putrajaya Immigration Department, inspecting 2,445 individuals, including 1,600 foreigners and 845 locals. The raid followed repeated complaints from the public about areas allegedly dominated by foreign workers.
“Some tried every trick to escape detection,” said Putrajaya Immigration Enforcement Director Basri Othman. “We saw people claiming they were just eating or on vacation, hiding under tables and beds, and even scaling buildings to avoid arrest. But our team managed to intercept them all, even in poorly lit alleys.”
The operation also uncovered a clandestine gambling den equipped with CCTV cameras acting as “lookouts.” Seven people—six from Myanmar and one from Indonesia—were arrested on the spot. Several others attempted rooftop escapes but were swiftly detained.
Investigations revealed that some foreign workers were living in shoplots rented by their employers and were employed at construction sites on social visit passes, violating immigration laws. Authorities confirmed that repeated raids had been conducted in the area, but this operation was significantly larger due to ongoing public complaints.
Of the 770 migrants arrested, authorities reported:
- 377 men from Bangladesh
- 235 men from Myanmar
- 58 men from India
- 19 Indonesians, including two women
- 72 men from Nepal
- 9 other foreigners, including six women
Violations included lack of proper identification documents, overstaying, and misuse of identification cards. All detainees, aged 21 to 65, were taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Department for screening before being placed in designated depots for further investigation.
Cases are being investigated under Sections 6(3) and 15(4) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
Basri emphasized that regular raids will continue, with future inspections targeting workplaces and premises suspected of employing foreign workers outside approved quotas.
