A foreign worker was caught hiding inside a large rubbish container during an enforcement raid at a furniture factory in Telok Gong on Wednesday, in an attempt to evade immigration officers.
When questioned, the man claimed he was merely “taking a rest” as it was his break time, using that explanation after being found crouching among waste inside a roro bin during an inspection carried out by the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM).
The individual, a factory worker believed to be in his 30s, insisted that he had no intention of hiding and said he was only trying to relieve fatigue.
In the same operation, another foreign worker was found hiding near a wood-cutting machine when officers carried out the raid. He claimed he was startled and frightened by the sudden presence of enforcement officers while working.
The raid, which was part of Ops Mega, saw a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies, including JIM Selangor, the Labour Department, the Domestic Trade Ministry and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), targeting undocumented migrants at the factory.
According to Selangor Immigration Deputy Director (Control) Mohamad Khusairi Kamarudin, a total of 520 foreign nationals were inspected during the operation conducted from 8am.
He said 252 undocumented migrants aged between 18 and 50 were detained for various immigration offences.
Those detained comprised 175 Bangladeshis, 33 Nepalese, 39 Pakistanis, four Myanmar nationals and one Sri Lankan.
Authorities said offences included misuse of passes, lack of valid identification documents, overstaying, and possession of unrecognised permits.
All detainees have been sent to the Semenyih Immigration Depot for remand and further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
JIM also stressed that it will not compromise with any parties found hiring or protecting undocumented migrants and urged the public to provide information on illegal immigration activities.
