Seven years! That is how long a village build by undocumented immigrants existed in Cyberjaya

SEPANG - Seven years! That is how long a village build by undocumented immigrants have been in existence in Cyberjaya.

This is the result of an operation conducted by the immigration department at the village tucked witihn a forest and hill, here, today.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the raid at 12.01am involved the cooperation from the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), the National Registration Department (JPN) and the General Operations Force (PGA).

He said the 55 undocumented Indonesian immigrants consisting of 26 men and 29 women were arrested.

"We estimated 40 undocumented immigrants had escaped into the forested areas surrounded by wood and glass believed to be in hands of the village 'protectors'.

"We (immigration) believe they entered Malaysia through a temporary work visit pass (PLKS) since 2016 and successfully remained working in the construction sector and as cleaners," he told reporters after the raid.

He said the raid found immigrants hiding in the chicken coop and underneath their homes.

He said the operations team faced several difficulties as the seven-year old village was hidden and proved to be difficult to track as it was almost four kilometres off the main road.

"The immigrants' homes were developed between trees and bushes and it was believed they had to pay a rent of RM500.

"They used generators for electricity supply and their water was sourced from a well with a depth of three to five metres. Their toilet facilities were rather basic," he said.

55 undocumented immigrants aged 16 to 70 consisting of 26 men and 29 women were arrested.

He said the village was equipped with a surau, a general store and shops supplying cooking gas as well as food.

From the interrogation, it showed women ran small businesses to sell nasi lemak, pisang goreng and snacks throughout Cyberjaya.

"The cooking area was dirty violated health laws," he said.

Dzaimee said they have reported the matter to the Sepang Municipal Council to demolish the homes and to ensure the area will no longer be inhabited by undocumented immigrants.

The case was investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.