Foreign workers hide in piles of wood to evade arrest

KAJANG: Foreign workers attempted to evade arrest by hiding behind piles of timber and in the areas around the factory during Immigration Department raids on a wood factory and plastic manufacturing plant in Semenyih and Balakong earlier this week.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation took place at 11.30am on Jan 13 and involved a team of officers from various ranks of the Special Action Branch, Enforcement Division, and Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya.

According to Zakaria, based on public information and intelligence, the operation team moved to the locations and inspected 82 foreign nationals and seven local citizens.

"As a result of the inspection, 56 foreign nationals from various countries were detained, including three men and four women from Indonesia, 27 men and 11 women from Myanmar, five men and one woman from Bangladesh, four women from Thailand, and one man from China, who was also an employer.

"During the raid, several foreign workers tried to flee and hide within the vast factory area, which was filled with piles of timber, making it difficult for the officers to carry out checks. However, they were unsuccessful and were subsequently detained," he said in a statement today.

He added that all the foreign nationals detained are suspected of violating the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.

They have been placed at the Bukit Jalil Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation.

"Five summonses were issued to local witnesses, requiring them to appear at the office to assist in the investigation," Zakaria said.

"The department will not compromise with foreign nationals who stay illegally, overstay their visas, or abuse their permits in this country," he added.