Immigration deputy director-general (operations) Jafri Embok Taha said that 130 Indonesians, including 76 men, 41 women and 13 children (one of which is a nine-month-old baby), as well as two Bangladeshi men, were arrested in the operation, which started at 2.38am.

He said that the results of intelligence and complaints received by the department found that the settlement had existed for the past four years, and was even equipped with electricity.

“These foreigners are believed to be renting the area from local residents, who had also provided access to the electricity supply. The ‘Ketua Kampung’ (village chief) here claimed they were paying about RM6,000 a month for the rental of 0.6ha of land.

“In this illegal settlement, there are also sundry shops, food stalls and a surau. Most of these foreigners work as cleaners, restaurant assistants and construction workers in the surrounding area,” he said, after the enforcement operation today.

According to Jafri, all the foreigners did not have valid travel documents and had stayed in the country for far too long.

“During the three-hour operation, some of the foreigners climbed on the roof, or locked themselves (in their quarters) to avoid arrest.

He said that the operation involved 220 members and officers from various agencies, including the General Operations Force and the national registration department, and the case was investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Asked about action against the landowner, he replied that further review would be carried out under Section 55E (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

He also reminded the public and employers not to harbour undocumented migrants, or they will face legal action.