117 foreigners detained in Johor factory raid for lacking valid travel and work documents, with a local HR officer also held to assist investigations.

JOHOR BAHRU: A total of 117 foreign nationals were detained in a raid on a medical equipment factory in Senai last Thursday. The operation was conducted by the Malaysian Immigration Department under Ops Mahir.

The operation began at 7 am following intelligence and public complaints. It was carried out in collaboration with the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS).

Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said those detained comprised 47 Myanmar men, five Bangladeshi men and 65 Myanmar women. Their ages ranged from 19 to 52.

“Inspections found that they failed to produce valid travel documents and work passes, and are believed to have been employed without proper authorisation,” he said in a statement.

A Malaysian man working as a human resources officer at the factory was also detained. He is being held to assist in the ongoing investigation.

Mohd Rusdi said the operation followed several weeks of surveillance. The focus was on employers suspected of hiring undocumented foreign workers to cut labour costs.

All detainees have been placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot. They are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.

 The Sun Malaysia