Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) detained 152 foreign nationals in a raid on a five-star entertainment centre believed to have been offering prostitution packages involving foreign nationals at a hotel in the Changkat area near here, early this morning.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the operation was led by JIM's director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, and was initiated after public complaints and two weeks of intelligence by the Putrajaya Immigration Enforcement Division. The raid took place at about 1.30 am.
Datuk Zakaria Shaaban stated that a total of 243 individuals were inspected, including 194 foreigners and 49 locals. Out of those inspected, 152 foreigners were detained. The detainees included 129 Chinese nationals, two Taiwanese, five Vietnamese, five Myanmar nationals, eight Bangladeshis, and one each from Indonesia, Turkey, and Vanuatu. These individuals, aged between 21 and 32 years, were detained under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. Additionally, 17 summonses to witnesses (Form 29) were issued during the operation.
He further explained that the entertainment centre, operating on the first to sixth floors of a three-star hotel, is believed to have started operations three months ago, catering exclusively to VVIP customers. The premises were tightly guarded, allowing access only to certain customers, with room prices ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000 for exclusive rooms available for more than 24 hours.
Zakaria mentioned that during the raid, several foreigners appeared disoriented and engrossed in loud music, unaware of the enforcement team's presence. All the detained foreign nationals were held under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and were subsequently placed at the Putrajaya Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation. The operation was a collaborative effort involving 131 Immigration officers and personnel, along with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM).
He emphasized that JIM would not tolerate foreigners staying illegally, overstaying, or misusing passes in Malaysia. Strict action would be taken against any party employing or sheltering illegal immigrants. BERNAMA, which was present during the operation, reported discovering several rooms rented by foreign nationals from China and items suspected to be used for drug abuse activities.