KLANG: Several Malaysians turned up claiming to be employers or caretakers of business premises during an immigration crackdown on businesses suspected of being operated by or employing foreigners in Meru here today.
The situation unfolded at several premises inspected during a joint operation by the Selangor Immigration Department and Klang Royal City Council (MBDK), which began at 11am.
The operation targeted various businesses, including barber shops, vehicle workshops, grocery stores, car washes and mobile phone shops.
At one premises, a Bangladeshi man believed to be the employer became agitated when MBDK enforcement officers inspected his shop.
The man, who was accompanied by his Malaysian wife, refused to identify his foreign workers and gave various excuses when questioned by enforcement personnel.
A local man later arrived, claiming to be the brother of the Bangladeshi man's wife and introducing himself as the caretaker of the premises.
"I don't know who is working today. I just returned from the clinic after taking my child there," the Bangladeshi man told enforcement officers.
However, when officers asked him to review the premises' closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, he fell silent and refused to cooperate.
At another premises, a mobile phone shop suspected of employing foreigners, a Malaysian woman arrived during the inspection and claimed to be its caretaker.
Similar situations were observed at several other businesses, where foreign workers detained by enforcement officers claimed their employers were Malaysians, apparently in an attempt to avoid arrest.
Selangor Immigration Department acting director Mohmad Khusairi Kamarudin said the operation focused on businesses suspected of employing foreigners or being operated by them.
"A total of 47 individuals were inspected during the operation.
"Of these, 37 foreigners aged between 18 and 40, including Indonesians, Bangladeshis, Indians and Myanmar nationals, were detained for various immigration offences, including failing to possess valid identification documents and overstaying," he told reporters after the operation.
Khusairi said preliminary checks found that 20 business premises had valid licences, while another 10 were operating without licences.
He said the department had also issued nine witness summonses to Malaysians believed to be the owners of the premises.
He reminded employers against hiring foreigners without valid permits, adding that enforcement action would continue against those who violated immigration laws.
"Our targeted locations are not limited to Klang. Operations will be conducted throughout Selangor," he said.
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