30 Foreign Nationals Arrested in Johor, Malaysia for Immigration Offenses

Malaysian authorities have arrested 30 foreign nationals in a raid on six food premises in Masai, Pasir Gudang, Johor, for various immigration offenses. The foreigners, aged between 21 and 43, were from Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India. They were found working at eateries and pubs without valid permits or passes.

The arrests were part of an operation called 'Ops Selera' conducted by the Johor State Immigration Department. The detained individuals were found to have committed offenses under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, including not possessing valid passes or permits to be in the country and misusing their social visit passes to seek employment.

Five notices were issued to the employers of the foreign workers. The authorities stated that raids would be intensified and urged migrants to take advantage of the ongoing Migrant Repatriation Programme to avoid legal action.

Why this matters: The arrests highlight the ongoing issue of illegal foreign workers in Malaysia and the government's efforts to crack down on immigration offenses. The presence of undocumented workers can have economic and social implications for the country.

Following the arrests, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad emphasized that the Health Ministry's enforcement team needs to be more tactical in curbing the activities of foreign food vendors with questionable hygiene practices. "The ministry has identified the modus operandi of these foreign traders and will tighten monitoring to stop their activities," he said.

The minister also mentioned that the Health Ministry will cooperate with the Education Ministry to review standard operating procedures for outdoor school activities to prevent incidents like the recent death of a 14-year-old student during a school-hosted cross-country event on April 19.

Key Takeaways

• 30 foreign nationals arrested in Johor, Malaysia for immigration offenses
• Foreigners from Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India worked without valid permits
• Authorities issued 5 notices to employers and urged migrants to use repatriation program
• Health Ministry to tighten monitoring of foreign food vendors with poor hygiene practices
• Health and Education Ministries to review SOPs for school outdoor activities after student death