The Immigration Department has arrested 43 migrants, including 34 Bangladeshis, from a construction site in the state of Johor, Malaysia. Besides, a local employer and representative have been arrested.

The state's immigration department said 43 illegal immigrants and a local employer were arrested in a raid on a housing project site in Kluang area on Friday (Oct 18).

State GIM director Datuk Mohd Rushdi Mohd Darus said in a statement on Sunday (Oct 20) that foreigners were working at the construction site without valid permits. On Friday, following public complaints, they were arrested for offenses under Regulation 17 (b), 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 and Section 15 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act).

He said, four women, 34 Bangladeshi men and 9 Indonesians aged between 21 and 49 were arrested. While checking the documents of a total of 85 foreigners and locals in the operation, some tried to escape by jumping into the nearby river and failed.

The employer's representative of the main contractor on the housing site was arrested for an offense under section 56(1)(d) of the Protection of Aliens Act 1959/63.

Mohammad Rushdi said the operation was carried out by GIM Enforcement Division as well as enforcement officers from Kluang Immigration, Batu Pahat, Segamat and Muar branches.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Rushdie said the enforcement unit of the GIM Marsing branch raided a house in the district on Thursday (October 17) and arrested six migrants for allegedly operating without passports and valid travel documents. Among them one Bangladeshi and five Indonesian nationals. Those aged between 25 and 54 years.