GUA MUSANG: The state Immigration Department has uncovered new tactics employed by illegal immigrants to evade detection — renting houses within Orang Asli settlements at Lojing Highlands.
This discovery was made during a special operation conducted this morning across several Orang Asli communities.
Kelantan Immigration Department deputy director Nik Akhtarulhaq Nik Abdul Rahman said that the integrated operation was carried out in collaboration with the National Security Council, the state Islamic Religious Affairs Department, the Registry Department, and the Lojing Highlands District and Land Office.
Beginning at 2am, the operation inspected 62 individuals, including 44 Malaysians and 18 foreigners, across five Orang Asli settlements: Kampung Brooke Lama, Kampung Sangwai B, Kampung Sangwai C, Kampung Sendrop, and Kampung Sigar.
"During the operation, we checked 28 premises, detaining eight out of the 18 foreigners for entering Malaysia illegally and overstaying their visas. We suspect these individuals chose to reside in the Orang Asli settlements to avoid arrest," he said in a statement today.
Nik Akhtarulhaq said that the detained foreigners, seven from Bangladesh and one from Nepal, are aged between 20 and 30 years, including two women.
He said they had been sent to the department's detention centre in Tanah Merah.
He added that the department would take strict action against anyone found harbouring or colluding with illegal immigrants.