Hundreds of women and children were among 1,368 undocumented migrants arrested during an immigration raid at the Pusat Bandar Utara Kuala Lumpur enhanced movement control order (MCO) area yesterday.
Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud in a statement said a total of 7,551 foreigners were screened during the early morning raid around the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market and those arrested were later taken to the Immigration headquarters at Jalan Duta.
From those arrested, Myanmar citizens made up the highest number with 790 people, Indonesia (421), Bangladesh (78), India (54), Pakistan (6) and the rest were other nationals.
"The detainees comprise 1,009 men, 261 women and 98 children," said Khairul Dzaimee.
Following reports of the raid, migrant rights group Tenaganita had yesterday raised concerns over purported non-compliance with Covid-19 prevention standard operating procedures, particularly due to the large number of migrants involved.
Khairul Dzaimee, however, today confirmed that all migrants who had their documentations checked, as well as those arrested, had tested negative for Covid-19 during their time living under the conditional MCO.
He said among offences identified include having no valid identification documents, overstaying, possession of fake documents and others.
"All of 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," said Khairul who stressed that all of them would be deported and blacklisted from entering Malaysia forever.
Earlier today, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob insisted that the immigration raids are ongoing operations with no correlation to the MCO period.
"It’s not just during the MCO [...] there are operations before the MCO and I am sure it will be ongoing after this.
"The immigration raid has nothing to do with the MCO," he said during the daily National Security Council Covid-19 update press conference in Putrajaya.
Critics have argued that Putrajaya's insistence to crack down 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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