Climbing roofs, hiding behind doors to avoid immigration checks

LUMUT - Willing to climb roofs, hide behind doors, and confront the authorities' pursuit.

These are among the actions taken by several foreign nationals attempting to escape during 'Op Sapu, Selera, Kutip, dan Belanja' in the Manjung district area here last Friday.

In the operation that started from 6.30pm until 12.30am, 90 foreign nationals aged one to 50 were detained on suspicion of offences under the Immigration Act.

Perak Immigration Department Director Hapdzan Husaini stated that 31 officers from the Enforcement Division were involved in the operation, which covered business premises and residential areas.

"A total of 104 individuals were examined. However, only 90 individuals were detained, consisting of 63 males and 27 females, including five children.

"All of them are Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Indonesia, and Myanmar citizens. With the efficiency of the operation members, all attempts to escape were successfully thwarted," he said in a statement here on Sunday.

He added that all those apprehended are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which pertains to not having valid travel documents.

"The investigation is being carried out under Section 15(1)(c) of the same act due to overstaying and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, which involves violating the terms of a visit pass by working illegally.

"All of them are also being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 as well as the Passport Act 1966," he said.

Hapdzan said the investigation is ongoing against the owners of residences and business premises that allowed undocumented foreign immigrants to be on their premises.