SHAH ALAM: In the latest raid by the Immigration Department, 132 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested by the authorities at a four-year-old settlement in Setia Alam early this morning.
Selangor Immigration officers began securing the perimeter of the settlement about 2.30am, before kicking in every gate built around the 0.6ha settlement.
This startled the occupants, who then ran helter-skelter as they tried to find a way out.
The illegal settlement, complete with facilities such as a surau, toilets, convenience stores, eateries, water and electricity supply, was built in an oil palm plantation.
It is understood that the illegal immigrants were paying "rent" of approximately RM6,000 per month for the past four years.
The raid, jointly carried out with the police General Operations Force, National Registration Department, Civil Defence Force and Shah Alam City Council, ended at 5am.
Those detained, aged between 9 months and 60 years, comprised immigrants from Indonesia and Bangladesh.
Immigration deputy director-general (operations) Jafri Embok Taha said the operation involving 220 enforcement officers.
"The inspection involved 156 foreign residents, and as a result, 132 individuals were detained, comprising 78 men, 41 women, and 13 children.
"They work in the surrounding areas as laundry workers, construction labourers and restaurant workers and have been residing in this settlement for the past four years," he told reporters after the raid.
Jafri said preliminary investigations revealed that the local landowner was believed to be providing electricity supply to the residents in the settlement.
"As for water supply, they obtain it from hill water and by digging wells. For daily necessities, this settlement has a convenience store that sells various daily items.
"Further investigations will be carried out to identify the landowner to assist in the investigation under Section 55E of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said.
He added that all those detained would be taken to the Immigration enforcement division office in Selangor for document and passport verification before the arrest process is finalised.
"The Immigration Department reminds the public and employers not to harbour undocumented immigrants or they will face legal action. Members of the public with information can channel it to the department for further action.
"Today's operation is part of a series of operations carried out by the Immigration Department and will continue based on the complaints received," he said.