Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) detained 34 individuals, including three company owners, in a coordinated operation at several locations around the capital today, following the activities of a cleaning service company suspected of employing foreign workers without valid documents. Its director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, revealed that 31 Indonesian nationals, consisting of 27 women and four men who worked as cleaning and transport workers, as well as three locals who are also the owners of the company, consisting of one man and two women, were detained in the operation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, preliminary investigations suggested that the company employed foreign workers and withheld their passports. In addition, the workers reportedly received a minimum wage below RM1,500, faced salary deductions without reasonable justification, and were subjected to fines and penalties without consent. They were allegedly forced to work overtime, with their movements controlled by the company. The company has a record of employees fleeing due to suspected exploitation.
The operation team seized 20 passports belonging to other individuals, cash amounting to RM9,400, and several sets of computers linked to the company's activities, which are under examination to assist in the investigation. Zakaria stated that the company's modus operandi involved recruiting Indonesian nationals by offering job opportunities as cleaning workers, promising that recruitment and certain expenses would be covered by the company.
JIM intelligence and financial investigations have led to several accounts belonging to individuals and companies suspected of illegal activities being frozen under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA)(Act 613). All detained individuals are currently placed at the KLIA Immigration Detention Depot for investigation and further action.
The integrated operation was led by officers from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM) and AMLA units at JIM headquarters, Putrajaya, in collaboration with the National Financial Crime Centre (NFCC), the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Labour (JTKSM), the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN), and the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).