Online Desk: Malaysian immigration department personnel arrested 425 undocumented migrants, including 252 Bangladeshis, during an operation carried out at several units of an apartment block in Cheras early Saturday. Among the arrested 252 from Bangladesh, 108 from Myanmars, 30 from Indonesia, 20 from Nepal, seven from Pakistan, six from Cambodia, and two from Philippines all of whom are between eight and 54 years old comprising. 372 men and 53 women, said Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department Director Syamsul Badrin Mohshin in a press conference.

The operation was carried out following investigations and surveillance for two weeks after complaints from the public who said the number of foreigners in the area was too large and causing various social problems, he said. Speaking to reporters at the scene, Syamsul Badrin Mohshin said,”In the operation carried out by 60 immigration officers and personnel starting at 1am and ending at 4am this morning, a total of 425 illegal immigrants were arrested for not having valid identification documents, overstaying or expired temporary work permits in addition to unrecognised card holders,” an online agency reports.

According to him, investigations found that the arrested foreigners worked in various fields including the construction and cleaning sectors. He said that during the operation, some of the foreigners also acted aggressively by throwing various objects including bottles to avoid being arrested, but no injuries were reported.

Syamsul Badrin said, apart from those arrested, there were also foreigners who had settled in the area, among them Rohingya refugees who held United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) cards and those who had valid work permits. “For the Myanmar citizens, they had cards based on their association or ethnicity but they are not valid for use and not recognised (in the country). Those who only have these cards as identification, immigration will detain them,” he said.

“All those detained were taken to the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot for further action and the case is being investigated under Section 15(1)(c) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration,” the Director added.