174 undocumented Bangladeshis have been detained in Malaysia
The raids were planned a month in advance after authorities received complaints from local residents.
The Malaysian Immigration Department has detained 468 migrant workers — including 174 Bangladeshis — in a series of coordinated raids across the popular tourist destination of Cameron Highlands.
The operations, conducted on Thursday between 11am and 2pm local time, focused on business areas, construction sites, and vegetable farms across four zones. A total of 547 immigration and enforcement officers took part.
State news agency Bernama reported that many migrants were busy packing vegetables and did not notice the presence of enforcement teams, leaving them little opportunity to escape.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the raids had been planned a month in advance following complaints from local residents. Intelligence assessments later confirmed that the district and its surrounding areas had become major hubs for undocumented migrant labour.
He added that a recent surge of migrants in the highland region has raised concerns among local communities.
Authorities checked the documents of 1,886 migrants and detained 468 for offences including overstaying and lacking valid travel papers.
Those arrested include 175 Myanmar nationals, 174 Bangladeshis, 67 Indonesians, 20 Nepalis, 16 Pakistanis, 11 Indians, and one each from the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, and Cambodia. The detainees — 388 men, 76 women, and four children aged between 20 and 54 — will be sent to immigration depots in Kelantan, Perak, and Selangor.
From January to 18 November this year, Malaysia has detained 83,994 undocumented migrants as part of nationwide enforcement operations.
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