December 11, 2024, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur – The Malaysia Immigration Department (JIM) conducted a special operation at an apparel factory suspected of employing illegal foreign workers. The operation, which began at 9:15 PM, involved a team of officers and personnel from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division, in cooperation with the ATIPSOM and AMLA Prevention Division, Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya.
The operation was carried out based on public complaints and two weeks of intelligence gathering. The operation team successfully apprehended a 46-year-old Bangladeshi man, believed to be the ‘Company Manager,’ for employing foreign nationals illegally. Additionally, 34 Bangladeshi men and 15 Myanmar women, suspected to be seamstress workers at the factory, were arrested. All detainees, aged between 20 and 60, brought the total number of those detained to 50 individuals.
During the inspection, the operation team seized 40 timecards and sewing equipment. The factory has reportedly been operating for two years.
The Company Manager, a Bangladeshi national, was detained under Section 55B and Section 55E of the Immigration Act 1959/63. The other foreign nationals were arrested under Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. They were all taken to the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot for further investigation.
The Immigration Department will continue to take strict action against any party found violating the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966, the Immigration Regulations 1963, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM).
DATO’ ZAKARIA BIN SHAABAN
Director-General of Immigration Malaysia