MELAKA, Sept 1 — A total of 414 foreign immigrants were detained in a six-hour operation from midnight under "Ops Bersepadu 6P" in Melaka.

State Immigration director, Kamalludin Ismail said in the operation involving 40 Immigration Department personnel and 50 others from various agencies, 11 Chinese nationals believed to be guest relations officers(GROs), were arrested at an entertainment outlet in Melaka Raya, here.

"Four of the women were nabbed when they were trying to flee through a secret exit, after a hole had been made through the wall of one of the 12 karaoke rooms on the upper floor of the premises," he told reporters, here.

He said another 403 foreigners, aged between one month and above 50 years, were nabbed at a flats in Bachang, here, for committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63, including entering this country without valid documents and for overstaying.

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They comprise 203 from Indonesia, 100 from Myanmar, 63 from Nepal, 21 from Bangladesh, 10 from India and six from Vietnam.

Kamaluddin said a local man in his forties was arrested under Section 56 (1)(d) of the same Act for harbouring these illegals.

In Sungai Petani, the Kedah Immigration Department arrested 130 illegals including 10 women during a raid under "Ops Selera" at two different locations, early today.

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Its enforcement division chief, Nar Azaman Ibrahim said the illegals, aged between 14 and 50 years, were found to have committed offences like not having valid travel documents and overstaying.

The 120 males arrested comprise 53 Myanmars, 40 Indonesians, 16 Bangladeshis, six Nepalese, four Pakistanis and one Indian, while the 10 women comprise five from Myanmar and five from Indonesia.

Nar Azaman said 192 were checked in the operation which focused on the kongsis at the Puteri Jaya Hill Park and Lot 88 Sungai Petani construction sites.

He said 137 Immigration officers and staff, assisted by Rela and Civil Defence Department members as well as Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers took part in the operation from midnight till 6am today. 

In Kampar, the Perak Immigration Department arrested 12 foreigners including a woman in an "Ops Bersepadu 6P" operation at a kongsi at the Kampar new township construction site, early today.

Its senior assistant director, Wan Mahmud Zuhdi Wan Hassan said those arrested were from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and aged between twenties and forties.

He said they had overstayed, possessed false work permits or were without any travel documents.

The operation followed two weeks of surveillance, with 114 foreigners checked including 19 women and two children Those arrested were sent to the Langkap immigration detention depot.

In Johor Baharu, 101 illegals including two children were detained in a similar operation in Taman Muhibbah, Ulu Tiram, last night.

The illegals, aged between two and 58 years, are from Cambodia (72), Vietnam (22), Myanmar (four) and Indonesia (two).

State Immigration enforcement chief, Masri Adul said they had no valid travel documents, had overstayed or had misused their temporary work permit.

The illegals nabbed were sent to the Pekan Nanas immigration detention depot for further action. In the operation, seven locals were also detained after they were tested positive for drugs. — Bernama