Immigration raid detains 630 foreign workers at Kedah construction site

In a coordinated sweep called Ops Mega, Malaysia's Immigration Department dispatched 159 officers from its headquarters and regional offices in Kedah, Perlis, Perak, Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan to a construction site in Padang Meha, Kulim. Inspectors screened 697 individuals and detained 630 foreign workers, 622 men and eight women, aged between 18 and 50. The largest groups were Chinese (396) and Bangladeshis (199), with smaller numbers from Pakistan, Myanmar, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia, New Zealand and Senegal.

Detainees were charged under Sections 6(1)(c) and 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b). The raid faced challenges including attempts to flee, confrontations with officers, heavy rain, slippery surfaces and unsafe construction structures. Six witness summonses were issued, and the department called on employers and contractors to ensure all foreign workers hold valid travel documents and permits, pledging continued enforcement.