Illegal foreign workers rounded up at mall

GEORGE TOWN - They thought they were safe from the watchful eyes of the authorities by working in a mall but their luck ran out when Immigration officers launched a raid.

Fifty-eight foreigners who worked as cooks and waiters at the mall’s food court were detained in the operation conducted by 90 enforcement officers yesterday.

The foreigners, aged between 20 and 40, and including 11 women, either had no valid travel documents or had overstayed their visa.

Penang Immigration assistant director Abdul Rahman Hassan said the operation was jointly conducted by officers from Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak.

“Acting upon public complaints, we started the operation at around 11.30am. Our focus was on those working as cooks and waiters at the food courts.

“We checked over 40 food outlets. We urge the employers to come to the office for further investigation,” he told reporters.

Most of the foreigners, added Abdul Rahman, were from Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Four men dressed in security guard uniforms were among those detained.

The foreigners, said Abdul Rahman, would be investigated under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act and Section 39(b) of the Immigration Rules 1963.