175 Foreign Nationals Detained in Ipoh Immigration Raid

Malaysia’s Immigration Department detained 175 foreign nationals during an enforcement operation at three locations in Bercham, Ipoh, after inspecting 305 workers at two factories and a food court.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the main offences involved working without valid documents or work permits. Some detainees held permits that did not correspond with the companies where they were working. Most of those detained were Bangladeshi nationals, alongside nationals from Myanmar and one Vietnamese national.

The operation, known as Op Mahir, began at 7 p.m. at a timber factory, a glove factory and a food court. Officers also found several suspected cases involving forged Temporary Employment Visit Passes, known by the Malay abbreviation PLKS.

Zakaria said authorities believed some employers may have used agents to obtain fake passes so foreign nationals could work at their premises. Investigators will examine how the documents were obtained and identify any syndicate involved.

He said immigration enforcement would continue on a broad scale across Malaysia. Authorities would not act against people staying legally in the country, he said, but would take firm action against those who broke the law, including employers who hired them.

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For those who are in the country legally, we will not take action, but against those who commit offences, we will not compromise and firm action will be taken, including against employers who hire them.