Undocumented Workers: 4 Bangladeshis detained in Malaysia

Malaysian authorities yesterday detained four Bangladeshis in a raid in Petaling Jaya, as part of its operation against undocumented migrant workers.

The Bangladeshis were among 155 foreigners detained by the local immigration department, reports Malaysian newspaper The Star.

The Malaysian home ministry had set a target of arresting at least 70,000 illegal immigrants this year following an amnesty under the Back-for-Good (B4G) programme, which ended on December 31 last year, according to media reports.

Earlier on January 4, the Malaysian Immigration Department announced that they detained 78 Bangladeshis during its nationwide raid against illegal workers.

They were among 474 illegal immigrants and four employers, according to The Star’s report.

Khairul Dzaimee Daud, director general of the Malaysian Immigration Department, said Indonesians made up the most of yesterday’s 130 detainees.

They were followed by eight Nepalese, nine Indian nationals, four Myanmar nationals and four Bangladeshis.

“Most of the foreigners detained did not have valid personal and travel documents.

“Some of them had overstayed and even married among their countrymen,” he told a press conference at the site of the raid.

After the January 4 announcement, Khairul Dzaimee said a total of 190,471 illegal immigrants had registered for the B4G programme.

“Those who failed to sign up will be rounded up,” he had said.

As many as 52,000 Bangladeshis returned from Malaysia under the B4G programme, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told the National Parliament on January 26.

Zahirul Islam, labour welfare counsellor in the Bangladesh mission in Kula Lumpur, yesterday said detention of undocumented migrant workers is a regular process in Malaysia.

He said sending Bangladeshis through illegal means have appeared as a big problem as it is narrowing down Malaysia’s job market for Bangladeshis.

“The problem is those who give false assurance while sending workers to Malaysia,” he told this newspaper over phone.

Unscrupulous agents send people under student or short-term tourist visas telling the workers that they will be able to find and continue work under such visas, he said.

“There is no scope to work illegally there,” he added.

At present, Malaysia’s job market remains suspended for Bangladesh.

The two countries are scheduled to hold a meeting in Dhaka on February 24 regarding the reopening of the market.