A Bangladesh national holding a Malaysia Permanent Resident status (MyPR) was arrested for allegedly managing and supplying foreign workers without proper approval and valid permits while operating under the cover of a business premise.
The arrest was carried out by the Intelligence and Special Operations Division of the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya during an operation at two locations on Wednesday.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the suspect was detained following a month-long intelligence operation, with investigations indicating that he was the company owner and employer involved in the activity.
He said authorities also detained four Bangladeshi men, a Bangladeshi woman and a Thai woman during the operation.
“Initial checks found that the Bangladesh national who acted as the employer possessed a MyPR, while another Bangladesh man held a Student Pass, and the Thai woman had a Temporary Employment Visit Pass as a restaurant worker.
“The remaining foreign nationals did not possess any valid passes or travel documents to remain in the country,” he said in a statement on Friday.
Zakaria said enforcement officers seized 31 Bangladesh passports, one Thailand passport, copies of Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) documents and RM48,524 in cash during the operation.
He said the suspect’s modus operandi involved arranging and supplying foreign workers to local employers without official permission, particularly targeting businesses in the Klang Valley that required foreign labour.
“The activities were carried out under the guise of business and food premises to avoid detection by enforcement authorities.
“The suspect allegedly charged RM4,000 per person for arranging and renewing their work permits,” he added.
All individuals detained, aged between 27 and 57, were taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further action.
Zakaria said one man and three local women, along with a Bangladesh national, were issued notices to assist investigations.
The main suspect is being investigated under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966 and Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while the other detainees are being investigated under Immigration Regulations 1963 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The Immigration Department said it will continue intensifying enforcement operations and take firm action against individuals who violate immigration laws to safeguard public safety and security.
