The Immigration Department has arrested 113 undocumented migrants during a raid at the enhanced movement control order (MCO) area in Selayang Baru yesterday.
“The operation covered the entire zone within the Selayang Baru area where the enhanced MCO has been imposed.
“Many foreigners reside here and they mostly work at the Selayang wholesale market area.
“A total of 1,683 foreigners have been checked and the result is that 113 undocumented migrants were arrested and brought to the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department in Jalan Duta.
“A majority of the foreigners in that area are the ethnic Rohingya who possesses the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards,” said Immigration Department director-general, Khairul Dzaimee Daud, in a statement today.
Among those arrested were 63 Indonesians, 22 Myanmar nationals, 19 Indian citizens, six Bangladeshis, two Pakistanis and one Nepali. They consist of 66 men, 36 women and 11 children.
He also assured that all foreigners who were checked and the undocumented migrants who were arrested have been confirmed negative for Covid-19 by the Health Ministry.
Among the violations identified by the undocumented migrants were lack of identification papers, overstaying, possession of false permits or passes, among others.
Khairul said all those arrested will be investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, Immigration Act 1959/1963, Passport Act 1966 and Immigration Regulations 1963, after which they will be deported back to their country of origin and blacklisted from Malaysia.
This is the latest in a series of crackdowns on undocumented migrants in enhanced MCO areas amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
On May 11, hundreds of women and children were among 1,368 undocumented migrants arrested during an immigration raid at the Pusat Bandar Utara Kuala Lumpur enhanced MCO area.
Critics have argued that Putrajaya's insistence to crackdown on undocumented migrants will be detrimental to Covid-19 prevention efforts as they would be afraid to come out for testing.
Ismail, however, has repeatedly denied claims of the alleged mistreatment, saying instead critics should be thankful that the migrants have been tested negative for Covid-19. - Mkini
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