114 Foreign Nationals Arrested in Immigration Raid on Two Entertainment Outlets in Penang
A total of 114 foreign nationals were arrested after Malaysia’s Immigration Department raided two entertainment outlets in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, on November 7.
The operation targeted two premises suspected of employing foreign nationals and operating a customer spending-based reward system for female hostesses.
According to reports by Pocketimes, those arrested included nationals from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar.
Immigration officers also seized several spending flower cards during the raids, which are believed to be connected to the entertainment outlets’ business arrangements.
Immigration Department Conducts Raids on Two Premises
The enforcement operation took place on November 7, with immigration officers conducting inspections at two entertainment establishments in Bukit Mertajam.
A total of 114 foreign men and women were detained during the operation.
The nationalities of those arrested were reported to include Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese and Myanmar nationals.
However, the available report did not provide a breakdown of how many individuals from each nationality were arrested.
Flower Cards Raise Questions Over Reward System
During the raids, enforcement officers reportedly discovered and seized multiple flower cards used for recording or representing customer spending.
Investigators suspect the establishments may have been operating a system in which female hostesses received incentives or rewards based on the amount spent by customers.
Such arrangements are believed to form part of the outlets’ business model, although the full details have yet to be established.
The seized items are expected to form part of the investigation into the establishments’ operations.
Further Investigations Underway
The arrests involved individuals from four different countries, highlighting the presence of foreign workers at the two entertainment establishments.
The authorities have not provided further details regarding the identities of those detained, their respective immigration statuses or the specific charges they may face.
Investigations are expected to establish whether the premises had breached Malaysia’s immigration regulations or other relevant laws.