{
  "id": 5679636,
  "title": "Foreign workers scramble in panic as immigration team arrives",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/foreign-workers-scramble-in-panic-as-immigration-team-arrives-5679636",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T23:42:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/05/foreign-workers-scramble-in-panic-as-immigration-team-arrives"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At around 7pm on Thursday, an immigration operation was launched in Bercham and Kanthan, Chemor, focusing on timber factories, glove factories, and food courts. In IPOH, foreign workers at a door factory were left in a state of panic as immigration officers arrived to conduct a raid. Due to fear of detection, some workers resorted to hiding under high-stacked wooden boards, while others tried to blend in with industrial waste bins and wardrobes, resulting in torn clothing and a dirty appearance. Despite their efforts, several individuals attempted to scale the factory walls, but were unsuccessful as the walls were too high and accompanied by barbed wire.\n\nDirector-General Zakaria Shaaban of the immigration department announced during a press conference that the operation commenced at 7pm on Thursday in Bercham and Kanthan, Chemor, with the aim of targeting timber factories, glove factories, and food courts. A total of 305 workers were inspected during the operation, and 175 were detained on suspicion of immigration-related offenses. The majority of the workers originated from Bangladesh, with others being nationals from Myanmar and Vietnam. The primary offenses committed by the workers included being undocumented, lacking valid permits, and engaging in unauthorized employment. Some cases also involved the use of counterfeit temporary employment visit passes.",
  "summary": "Several were injured at a door factory while trying to scale the walls of the factory compound to escape the raid.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Foreign workers scramble in panic as immigration team arrives",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/foreign-workers-scramble-in-panic-as-immigration-team-arrives",
        "published": "2026-09-04T23:42:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}