JOHOR BARU — Four eateries at a popular shopping mall in Johor Baru were raided by the Immigration Department of Malaysia during an operation that led to the arrest of 19 foreign workers for alleged immigration offences.
The operation, named Ops Selera, took place on Monday (Feb 23) from noon, according to Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus. A total of 25 enforcement officers were involved in simultaneous raids targeting several food premises in the area.
“The operation was conducted following public tip-offs and intelligence gathered by the department. During the operation, two local men working as premises managers were also detained to assist investigations,” he said on Feb 24.
Initial inspections at a food outlet serving Indian cuisine found 19 foreign workers suspected of immigration violations. The group included 11 men from Myanmar, one man from Indonesia, one woman from Indonesia, and six women from Myanmar, aged between 19 and 49, all employed as servers and cooks.
The detainees are suspected of committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963, and have been placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for further investigation. Three Form 29 notices were also served to witnesses during the operation.
-Advertisement-
Mohd Rusdi expressed gratitude to the public for providing information and urged continued cooperation to report offences such as harbouring undocumented migrants, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling.
“In line with the aspirations of the Madani government, we will continue to intensify enforcement operations against foreigners who violate immigration laws. We will not compromise with any employer, premises owner, or individual found hiring or harbouring undocumented migrants,” he added, emphasizing that strict action will be taken to uphold the law and safeguard public order.
-Thestar