IPOH: A 16-year-old male teenager from Myanmar, suspected of being exploited for forced labour, was rescued by the police at a waste plastic recycling factory in Chemor here today.
Perak police chief Datuk Azizi Mat Aris said in the 3.30pm operation, known as Op Pintas Mega, police also rescued 27 foreigners from Myanmar and China, aged between 30 and 55.
Azizi said police also arrested the 49-year-old director of the company for trafficking children for the purpose of exploitation and employing foreign workers without legal work passes.
"The operation was joined by the state police's Anti-Vice, Gambling, and Secret Societies Division (D7), Ipoh Criminal Investigation Department, and Bukit Aman's Criminal Investigation Department D3 Division.
"We were also joined by the state Labour Department (JTK) and the state Environment Department," he said in a statement tonight.
All rescued foreigners are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having valid identification and the Immigration Regulations 1959/63 for misuse of passes.