No safe harbour, warns Immigration Dept

SEREMBAN: The Immigration Department, which detained 110 undocumented foreigners in a three-hour operation near here yesterday, has again reminded employers that stern action will be taken against them if they hire or harbour such individuals.

State director Kennith Tan Aik Kiang said his department had been conducting regular operations against undocumented foreigners and would come down hard on those who continued to hire or harbour them.

Section 55e of the Immigration Act 1959/63 states that action can be taken against any person who allows an undocumented foreigner to enter or stay in a premises in which he had a direct interest.

“Similarly, action can also be taken under Section 56(1)(d) against anyone who knowingly harbours anyone who has contravened immigration laws,” he added.

He said in yesterday’s operation, 91 of the 110 foreigners detained were men.

“They were detained for violating immigration laws such as overstaying and entering the country illegally,” he said after the operation.

They will be probed under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for entering the country without a valid pass and Section 15(1)(c) for overstaying.

Tan said of those detained, 64 were Myanmars, while the others were Indonesians (13), Bangladeshis (10), Indians (six), Pakistanis (nine), Sri Lankans (six), and Nepalese (two).

He said 628 foreigners, including five children, were checked during the operation.

However, those with valid travel documents were later released.

Of the 628 foreigners, 584 were men.

Tan added that more than 300 personnel, including those from other states and agencies, were involved in the operation.

“We came in after receiving information from the public that many foreigners had started occupying shoplots where the top floors had been turned into hostels.

“Immigration then carried out a two-week surveillance and upon verification, we decided to carry out this operation,” he said.

Most of the foreigners worked in businesses and construction sites in the area, he added.

He said some of those without a valid permit or travel document had tried to escape by jumping from the upper floors or climbing onto the roof.

A 35-year-old woman suffered head injuries after she was believed to have jumped from the second floor in a bid to escape.