BENTONG, Oct 21 — The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) raided 19 locations around Janda Baik in a Mega Integrated Operation this morning and detained 65 foreign nationals for various immigration offences.

Its deputy director-general (Operations), Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli, said the operation which began at 10am and covered Kampung Cemeruh, Kampung Ceringin and Kampung Sumsum, was conducted following complaints from residents and media reports about the influx of foreign nationals in the resort area.

As a result of the raids on 19 locations including resorts, farms and construction sites, a total of 278 foreign nationals were inspected and 65 of them were detained on grounds for committing offences under the Immigration Act.

"All those detained, aged between 20 and 54 years, will be taken to the Kemayan Depot for investigation and further action," he said at a press conference here today.

He said that among the identified offences were not having a valid pass or permit to be in Malaysia, violating pass conditions, overstaying, using false travel documents, and other offences that violate the Immigration Act.

Lokman Effendi said the integrated operation involved 150 JIM members from Pahang, Kuala Lummpur and the Putrajaya headquarters, in addition to the cooperation of the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the National Registration Department (JPN).

He also said that in the raid, JIM also issued summons notices to two locals, namely the resort owner and the plantation owner, to appear and give statements as they were suspected of harbouring foreigners.

"On our part, we hope that Malaysians will be more patriotic and not rent out land or business premises to foreigners, as their influx is due to the existence of supply and demand," he added.

Commenting on enforcement nationwide, he informed that JIM has carried out more than 11,000 operations from January 1 until yesterday.

According to him, during that period, nearly 150,000 foreigners were checked, 41,000 were detained, while more than 45,000 were repatriated to their home countries. — Bernama