Immigration officers detained 68 foreigners, including 47 Thai women working as guest relations officers (GROs), during a midnight raid on a nightclub in Jalan Ampang under Ops Gegar.
The operation briefly turned physical when officers scuffled with security guards before securing the premises. Some women attempted to flee after spotting the enforcement team.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration director Hamsha Injau said 113 people were screened during the operation. The detainees comprised 47 Thai women, seven Thai men and 14 Bangladeshi men.
Commissions of up to RM3,000 a night
The women reportedly earned commissions of up to RM3,000 a night for entertaining customers.
Hamsha said the nightclub used special sashes and outfits to display the rates paid by patrons, ranging from RM100 to RM3,000.
‘The highest rate went up to RM3,000, while others were priced at RM1,000, RM500 and as low as RM100, which were distributed as commissions to the women,’ he said.
Hamsha said the raid followed public complaints, intelligence shared by partner agencies and two months of surveillance by the department.
Besides live singing and dancing, the nightclub offered private karaoke rooms where GROs entertained patrons.
A security guard, who said he had worked at the club for nearly eight years under different managements, said he did not know how long the establishment had been operating.
Foreigners allegedly breached pass conditions
Hamsha said most of the foreigners had entered Malaysia on social visit passes but were engaged in what he described as immoral activities.
Checks also found foreign workers holding employment passes for other sectors, including cleaning and construction, working at the entertainment outlet.
‘We (Immigration) would like to remind foreign workers in Malaysia to comply with their pass conditions. If the pass is for the construction sector, work at construction sites.
‘Here, we found construction and cleaning pass holders working in an entertainment outlet. They clearly violated the conditions of their passes, and action is being taken under Section 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963,’ he said.
He said operations targeting foreigners who abuse social visit passes would be intensified across Kuala Lumpur.
The detainees, aged between 20 and 55, were taken to the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot. Five locals were issued witness summonses to assist investigations.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration deputy director (Control) Azhar Ahmad and enforcement officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living were also present during the operation.
