A major immigration raid in Kuala Lumpur has uncovered what authorities described as an exclusive entertainment club catering to wealthy “VVIP” customers, with private suites reportedly costing as much as S$32,353 for bookings lasting over 24 hours.
The operation, carried out by Malaysia’s immigration department in the early hours of May 15, resulted in 152 foreign nationals being detained at a six-storey karaoke and nightlife venue hidden inside a three-star hotel in the Bukit Bintang district.
According to Malaysian media reports, the club operated across six floors along Jalan Changkat and allegedly served mainly affluent Chinese-speaking clientele seeking luxury entertainment services in highly restricted private rooms.
Most of those detained were mainland Chinese nationals, making up 129 of the total arrests. Authorities also detained individuals from Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Indonesia, Turkey and Vanuatu during the operation.
Luxury Rooms Reportedly Cost Up To S$32,000
Malaysia’s immigration director-general said the premises were heavily guarded and access was tightly controlled, with entry only granted to selected customers.
Investigators believe the venue had been operating for around three months before authorities moved in following public complaints and two weeks of intelligence gathering.
Officials claimed some of the exclusive rooms could cost between RM50,000 and RM100,000 per booking, equivalent to around S$16,177 to S$32,353. Reports also suggested the bookings extended beyond 24 hours, raising suspicions over the nature of activities conducted inside the club.
During the raid, enforcement officers allegedly discovered ketamine and various drug-related paraphernalia inside luxury suites located on the fifth floor.
Several Chinese men and foreign female guest relations officers from countries including Vietnam, Thailand and China were reportedly seen openly consuming drugs during the enforcement operation.
Arrests Focused On Immigration Offences
Despite the discovery of narcotics, authorities clarified that the arrests made during the raid were primarily linked to immigration-related offences.
Reports stated that neither the Malaysian police nor the National Anti-Drugs Agency participated in the operation, meaning no immediate drug-related charges were announced at the scene.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns surrounding underground luxury nightlife businesses operating in parts of Kuala Lumpur, particularly venues allegedly targeting wealthy foreign clientele through private invitation systems and premium entertainment packages.
Bukit Bintang has long been known as one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest nightlife and tourism hotspots, attracting both international visitors and high-spending customers from across the region.
The raid has since generated significant discussion online, with many social media users shocked by the reported room prices and the scale of the operation carried out by immigration authorities.
Images via Guang Ming Daily