Immigration Dept nabs 225 during raid at Johor petrochemical site
Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said they were apprehended in an operation codenamed Ops Mahir on Tuesday (July 22) at 11am.
"The operation was conducted following intelligence results after receiving information from the public about foreigners working without valid work permits," he said in a statement.
Mohd Rusdi stated that these illegal foreign workers were believed to have been working at the site for the past two to three months.
He noted that 664 locals and foreigners were inspected during the raid, with 225 apprehended for committing several offences, aged between 21 and 63.
"Those detained were 129 mainland Chinese men, four Chinese national females, 84 Bangladeshi males, two Indonesian men, two Pakistani males, and two Nepalese men," said Mohd Rusdi.
He added that the department also detained two locals — a man and a woman, who were the manager and the human resource officer at the site, respectively.
Mohd Rusdi said the foreigners were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering and staying in Malaysia without valid permits.
Other offences included staying in the country after their valid passes or permits expired or were cancelled under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act.
They also committed offences under Regulations 11(7)(a) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for misuse of social visit passes and Regulations 39(b) for violating specified pass conditions.
"The two Malaysians were detained for harbouring foreigners under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," said Mohd Rusdi.
He added that a total of six notices were issued to individuals to appear at the department's enforcement division to assist with the investigation.
"All detainees are placed at the Pekan Nanas Immigration Depot for investigation and further action," said Mohd Rusdi.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Tibetan singer detained by China for Dalai Lama tribute song
DHARAMSALA: A Tibetan singer and activist has been detained by Chinese authorities, according to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). The India-based exile government reported that Tzukte, known as Asang, was arrested in early July after performing a song honouring the Dalai Lama. The CTA, which operates as a government-in-exile without international recognition, condemned the arrest as part of China's 'broader campaign to suppress Tibetan voices, especially artists and writers.' China maintains strict control over Tibet, which it considers an inseparable part of its territory. Asang, a student of the well-known Tibetan singer Gebe, had previously drawn attention for publicly displaying the word 'Tibet' on his forehead in Sichuan province. The act gained online support but also increased official scrutiny. 'His detention, without charge or information on his whereabouts, violates international human rights norms and underscores China's ongoing assault on freedom of expression, cultural rights, and religious belief in Tibet,' the CTA stated. Chinese authorities have not commented on the arrest. Rights groups have long criticised Beijing's policies in Tibet, accusing it of erasing cultural and religious identity. – AFP
Focus Malaysia
9 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Purchase a Vietnam bride for $10,000, but don't forget your $2,000 deposit
WHAT can be more horrifying than the most horrific horror movie? A normal human relationship of course. The fear of rejection. Rejection. Abusive relationships. You name it. That is why people have resorted to 'purchasing' relationships, aka Vietnam Brides. This isn't new but a recent viral video on Vietnam Brides in Singapore has brought the topic back into the limelight. According to Mark Lin who runs the bridal agency, a client is charged $10,000 for a bride, and a $2,000 deposit is required. Some of the 'brides' were introduced in the video, their age ranging from 19 to 22. Authentic brides or legalised prostitution? You decide. Hahaha bukan setakat labour diorang beli dari luar, bini pon kena import dari luar. It looks borderline unlawful matchmaking barely legal brides though. — Dibs (@adibhazlami) July 25, 2025 However, netizens were sceptical about this concept of purchasing a relationship instead of forming one. We are not surprised. Netizen @kingtawa23 said he knew an uncle selling Tau Foo Fah who once purchased a Vietnam bride. Apparently she ran away and he felt that it was just a waste of money. Another netizen claimed this was human trafficking. @army4769 added that this was a growing trend as the local Chinese girls have a lot of demand. 'In the area of my condominium, I can say that the majority of Chinese guys there marry Vietnamese and Thais. At first I thought they were mistresses but they were actually wives,' he said. Nerizen @fa_fart echoes his words, stating that Chinese guys are more likely to marry Vietnamese as Chinese girls are expensive. 'It is cheap to marry Malays but they have to convert,' he said. 'Mail-order bride is the word,' said @Solo_Level_27 succinctly. So is happily ever after just $10,000 away for the average male? Who knows. On another note, what drives these girls to become Vietnam brides? According to the website Girls Not Brides, child marriage in Vietnam continues to be influenced by deep-rooted gender inequality, where girls are often seen as less valuable than boys. Economic hardship further worsens the situation, especially among Vietnam's poorest communities. Statistics show that nearly 39% of girls from low-income households marry before turning 18, compared to just 1.4% among the wealthiest. For many families facing financial struggles, marrying off daughters is viewed as a means of economic survival. The risk is even higher for girls from ethnic minority groups, who tend to experience higher poverty levels. Education also plays a critical role. Two-thirds of women with no formal education were married before 18, in contrast to only 14.5% of those who completed upper secondary school. Cultural traditions further contribute to the issue. Arranged marriages are still widely practiced in Vietnam, with decisions often made by parents and community leaders. In some areas, customary laws continue to legitimise the marriage of underage girls with parental consent. Although prohibited by law, the practice of hai pu, or bride kidnapping, remains common among Hmong communities. In these cases, girls are forcibly taken from their homes and married without their consent. Additionally, social expectations and the fear of being labelled a 'leftover girl' create further pressure for girls to marry at a young age. —July 27, 2025 Main image: @adibhazlami
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
EAIC detects irregularities in issuance of medical visas
PETALING JAYA: Medical visas have been issued to foreigners without going through the proper procedures, says the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC). In a statement on Sunday (July 27), the EAIC said a special task force led by its commissioner Datuk Seri Dr Razali Ab Malik had looked into the issuance of visas by Immigration Department officers. "The task force identified several misuse of powers by officers involved who approved medical visas for foreigners although the documents submitted were not completed and had not met the criteria under the Malaysian Immigration Circular No. 10/2001," it said. The EAIC added it had referred the investigation to the Attorney General, with recommendations to charge those responsible under the Penal Code, Immigration Act 1959/63 and Passports Act 1966.
