Yesterday (December 23), more than 46 Indonesians, including a 10-month-old baby, were detained at a shared house in Kampung Samawond, Genting Highlands, after being found to have committed various offences during an operation by the Pahang Immigration Department.
It is understood that the Indonesian settlement is among the areas where the Tightened Movement Control Order (PKPD) was implemented.
According to the Pahang state Immigration Department director, Muhammad Hatta Kassim said, 33 of them were detained under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1957/63 for not having valid travel documents as reported by Harian Metro.
Meanwhile, 11 of them were detained under Section 15 (1) (C) of the Immigration Act 1956/63, and two others were detained for misusing passes.
Apart from that, the immigration authorities have called the landowners for investigation under Section 55E (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) for allowing foreigners to be on the premises.
He also said that the settlement area has been around for a year, and the Immigration Department’s operations have been suspended due to the Movement Control Order in May.
“We have conducted operations in all areas around Genting, including Ambercourt but only in the Samawond area we’re conducting the first-time operation,” he said.
It was found that 138 foreigners were living in the area, and Muhammad Hatta does not rule out the possibility that some of the foreigners might be fleeing from the shared house before the operations took place.
All foreigners underwent COVID-19 screening tests, and all were reported to be negative.
Those detained will be remanded for 14 days and taken to the Immigration Detention Depot, Kemayan, Bera.
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