Immigration detains 20 in probe into alleged foreign worker quota abuse syndicate

Malaysian Immigration detained 20 individuals in a probe into a suspected foreign worker quota abuse syndicate. The operation, conducted in Taman Datuk Ahmad Razali, involved people aged 23 to 47. Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban revealed the operation, which took place from 7:30 am, was carried out by the Intelligence and Special Operations Division, the Strategic Compliance Branch, and the Inland Revenue Board's Intelligence and Profiling Department.

The detained included two Bangladeshi men, six Malaysian female employees, and 12 foreign customers, comprising nine Bangladeshi men and three Indonesian women. Authorities seized passports and cash, totaling RM6,700, believed to be earnings from the alleged scheme. Preliminary investigations found the syndicate used an employer arrangement where a company obtained foreign worker approvals and passed workers to another company for profit.

The workers did not directly work for the original employer, generating profits between RM3,800 and RM5,000 per worker. Companies allegedly submitted inaccurate company profiles to obtain quotas and underreported profits for 2020-2023 tax years. The business owner, manager, and a local employee face charges under the Immigration Act and Passport Act, while the foreign customers are suspected of tax evasion under the Income Tax Act.