Malaysia detained 205 foreigners - “A total of 425 foreigners living in the apartment were inspected and from the number, 203 men and two women were picked up for overstaying and not holding any employment documents...."
Many documented migrant workers, may also have ended their employment contracts - hence having no more employment pass currently. Many may have been RETRENCHED, as Malaysian laws is 'Migrant Worker Out First before Local Workers'.
Many migrant workers' employers may have simply gone under - and as such there may be migrant workers, and amongst this, there may be some, who have yet to get their proper employment and/or business passes, etc because of the Pandemic.
Some of these migrant workers that came in legally, may not be able to PAY the extra cost - justly, the EMPLOYERS should be paying this.
Additional charges for quarantine/testing may not affect the RICH, but for the poor, it is a BIG DEAL. For a foreigner returning to Malaysia, having to spend 14 days in quarantine and having to pay an additional RM5,000 plus is a BIG DEAL. With RM5,000, one can travel back and forth between KL and Bangkok at least 5 times...
WOULD IT NOT BE UNJUST TO ARREST AND DETAIN SUCH FOREIGN PERSONS...
Is the current Malaysian policy the same for all FOREIGNERS in Malaysia, or are they just arresting and detaining migrant workers?
It may be justified to arrest and detain foreigners who have entered Malaysia illegally - but not those who came in legally, but are now stuck in Malaysia by reason of Covid-19 and matters related.
Noting that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected international travel - not only the ability to go back to one's country but also additional cost. A person traveling back to Malaysia will have to incur additional charges for quarantine, testing, etc (RM2,000 plus), whereas a foreigner will have to pay an additional RM5,000 plus. Would such travel restriction and additional costs be reason why foreigners/migrants are forced to 'OVERSTAY'?
KL Immigration Dept detain 205 foreigners in Pudu apartment raid
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KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — The Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department has nabbed 205 foreigners in an operation at an apartment in Pudu last night.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department director, Hamidi Adam said the raid was conducted at 11.30pm following complaints from local residents that many foreigners were living in crowded conditions in the apartment.
The operation was conducted by 92 officers and personnel of the department with the cooperation of seven Labour Department officers as well as 18 enforcement personnnel of Kuala Lumpur City Hall ( DBKL).
“A total of 425 foreigners living in the apartment were inspected and from the number, 203 men and two women were picked up for overstaying and not holding any employment documents.
“The arrests were made under Section 15(1)(c) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/ 63 (Act 155),” he told reporters after the operation at Ixora Apartment here last night.
Hamidi said those held were aged between 20 and 49 comprising Bangladeshis, Indonesians, Myanmar nationals as well as Nepalese with most of them working at construction sites around the area.
Meanwhile, on the complaints of residents, Hamidi said investigation found most foreign workers lived in comfortable conditions with only two to three persons to a room and not as crowded as reported.
He said all detained foreigners were later brought to the Immigration
Department in the Home Ministry (KDN) complex for further
documentation. — Bernama - Malay Mail, 6/3/2021
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