Illegal settlement in Setia Alam raided, 132 held
The Immigration Department arrested 132 illegal immigrants during an operation at an illegal settlement in an oil palm plantation area in Setia Alam, near here early yesterday.
Immigration deputy directorgeneral (Operations) Jafri Embok Taha said 130 Indonesians including 76 men, 41 women and 13 children, as well as two Bangladeshi men, were arrested in the operation which started at 2.40am.
He said the department found that the settlement had existed for the past four years, and was equipped with electricity.
“These foreigners are believed to be renting the area from local residents, who also supply electricity. The ‘ketua kampung’ (village chief) here claimed they shared paying about RM6,000 a month for the rental of 0.6 hectares of land.
“In this illegal settlement, there are also sundry shops, food stalls and surau. Most of these foreigners work as cleaners, restaurant assistants and construction workers in the surrounding area,” he said when met after the enforcement operation.
He said based on checks, all the foreigners involved did not have valid travel documents.
“During the three-hour operation, there were those who climbed on the roof, and locked themselves (in the house) so as not to be arrested by the authorities.”
Jafri added that the operation involved 220 members and officers from various agencies including the General Operations Force (GOF) and the National Registration Department.
Asked about action against the landowner, he replied that further review would be carried out under Section 55E(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.