KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers went on a raiding spree to ensure that business licences are not misused by foreigners who operate businesses in the heart of the city, namely on Jalan Haji Taib and in Chow Kit here, last night.
These two locations are among the common areas where foreign nationals shop and many of the traders and stalls are also operated by Bangladeshis and Indonesians.
In a statement posted on DBKL's facebook page, it said a team comprising 131 officers and enforcement personnel raided businesses operating in the Chow Kit area as well as Jalan Haji Taib and inspected all the business activities in the area.
Checks were conducted on traders and roadside stalls selling various items, including sex-related products, food and beverage, shoes, second-hand clothing and even offering massage services, targeting outlets with foreign workers.
Out of checks on 200 businesses, 12 were found to have committed offences of not displaying their business licences and being run by foreigners illegally," it said, adding that the items from all 12 shops were also confiscated.
This included nine second-hand goods stalls, two food and beverage stalls, and a stall selling sex-related products.
DBKL in the statement said enforcement actions on the 12 traders were carried out through the provisions of the Local Government Act 1976 and the Licensing of Hawkers (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) By-Laws 2016.
DBKL also reminded all business licence holders to ensure compliance with the terms specified in their business licences, including operating within the designated hours and locations, as well as obtaining authorisation from authorities to appoint any assistants to manage the premises or stalls.
"Stringent enforcement measures will be taken if there are still locals operating businesses that employ or allow foreigners to operate, including the revocation of business licences," it read.
Confiscated items and goods were taken back to the DBKL store at Jalan Lombong in Taman Miharja Cheras for temporary storage and documentation processes.
Meanwhile, the Immigration Department had also conducted another round of operations at Persiaran KLCC, Saloma Bridge and Bukit Bintang last night and arrested 39 illegal immigrants.
The operation jointly carried out by the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department assisted by its Putrajaya officials started at about 9.15pm comprising about 40 officers.
The operation is part of the nationwide crackdown against illegal or undocumented migrants which has seen more than 2,000 arrests made within two weeks.
Officers targeted hotspots such as Pavilion, Suria KLCC and the Saloma Bridge, which just opened last year. Among the foreign nationals arrested, most were from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Philippines.
Also present during the operation was the Immigration Department deputy director-general Jafri Embok Taha.
The focus of the inspection was mainly on foreigners who have violated the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations by not having proper travel documents as well as overstaying in the country.
A total of 120 foreigners were checked in the operation which ended past midnight.