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Ahmadul Kobir, Malaysia: Malaysia’s Immigration Department detained 49 foreign nationals, including 24 Bangladeshis, during a raid on an iron ore mining site in Bukit Besi, Dungun, Terengganu, on Saturday.
Several migrants reportedly jumped into a water-filled mining pit and hid underwater in an attempt to evade immigration officers, while a Bangladeshi national was injured after slipping down a hillside while trying to flee.
The operation was conducted at around 8am on August 15. Immigration officers reportedly used vehicles not registered to or associated with the department to enter the mining area without raising suspicion among the workers.
The mine is located about two kilometres from the main road, according to Malaysian immigration authorities.
Immigration Department Deputy Director-General (Operations) Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli said the 49 detainees comprised 24 Bangladeshis, 17 Indonesians, seven Myanmar nationals and one Indian national.
The group included six women and two children. Their ages ranged from 10 months to 66 years.
According to Lokman Effendi, the migrants were believed to be working at the iron ore mine when immigration officers launched the operation.
The workers attempted to escape in different ways after becoming aware of the raid. Some reportedly jumped into a water-filled section of the mine and submerged themselves to avoid detection.
A Bangladeshi man was injured while attempting to escape by running down a hillside. He slipped and fell, sustaining injuries to his head, hands and legs.
He was provided emergency medical treatment at the scene and was reported to be in stable condition before being detained.
Officers used undercover approach
Lokman Effendi said immigration officers deliberately concealed their identities and used vehicles unrelated to the department to approach the mining site.
The strategy was intended to prevent those working at the site from receiving advance warning of the operation and attempting to flee before officers arrived.
The raid forms part of Malaysia’s continuing efforts to identify and detain undocumented foreign workers and migrants across the country.
All 49 detainees are suspected of being undocumented migrants, locally known as Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (PATI).
They are being investigated under Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
The authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the detainees or details of their employers and recruitment arrangements.
The presence of Bangladeshi nationals among the detainees again highlights the vulnerability of migrant workers in Malaysia, where undocumented workers can face detention and legal proceedings for immigration violations.
