SEAToday.com, Kuala Lumpur-Over 50 illegal immigrants were detained in Malaysia by the immigration department on January 6. The operation conducted in the late hours of Saturday night is a continuation of Malaysia’s effort to tackle illegal immigration within the country.

Areas known to host illegal immigrants were targeted in this operation, this included districts such as Pavilion Shopping Centre, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Suria KLCC, and the Saloma Bridge. The operation commenced at around nine fifteen p.m. local time, with 42 officers who detained the illegal immigrants.

Most of the detainees were aged 19 to 50 and originated from Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Syria. These people were arrested for overstaying their visit pass thus violating the immigration act of 1963.

Deputy Director General from the immigration department Jafri Embok Taha explained that the arrested will be transported to the immigration office. This crackdown is a part of the larger campaign from the government launched 2 weeks ago which has already amassed over 2 thousand arrests.

Just at the beginning of the year, there are over 3 hundred undocumented immigrants from Southeast and South Asian states. Currently, Malaysia is dependent on migrant workers who undertake labor-intensive jobs that are ignored by locals. (KIM/ALVIN)