Teacher Says Most Foreigners Detained in Klang Market Raid Hold Legal Refugee Status, Urges UNHCR to Step In

Earlier today, it was reported that 630 foreigners were detained in a raid at the Meru Central Market Complex in Klang on Saturday (February 22). They have since been allegedly placed at the Semenyih Immigration Depot for investigations and further action.

A teacher is now calling for the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) to step in and get the detained foreigners with UNHCR cards to be released.

The teacher, Muhammad Saif, who teaches at the Refugee Academy in Meru, Klang, took to his Facebook page to make the plea.

He wrote, “An urgent appeal to UNHCR Malaysia for the release of the detained refugees. On February 22, 2025, a raid was conducted at the Klang Pasar Borong Market, starting at 5am. As a result, all workers present at the market were arrested, with a total of 630 foreigners taken into custody.”

He then shared a breakdown of those detained, which consists of 530 Myanmar nationals, 85 Bangladeshis, 9 Indonesians, 5 Indians and 1 Nepali national.

Many of those detained have legal refugee status

“Among the 530 Rohingya individuals, the majority hold UNHCR refugee cards issued by UNHCR Malaysia. Many of them have families, with 2 to 5 children each, who now face severe hardships in the absence of their husbands,”

“We raise a critical question to UNHCR Malaysia, if recognised refugees with UNHCR cards are arrested and placed in detention camps for 14 days, risking their health and inevitably losing their jobs, who will support their families during this period?”

Due to this, he has since urged UNHCR Malaysia to get involved and get the detained refugees released.

“Given their legal refugee status, UNHCR Malaysia should intervene immediately to secure their release. Prolonged detention in the camp only exposes them to distressing conditions, as experienced by those who have endured similar situations before,”

“Ramadan will begin in a few days. How will their children and wives survive during this time? We urge UNHCR Malaysia to take immediate action and facilitate the release of these detainees at the earliest opportunity, rather than allowing them to remain in detention for 14 days,” he added.

What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

Also read: M’sians Rally Behind Foreign Worker Sentenced to 26 Months in Jail for Beating Up Boss Over Alleged Unpaid Wages