Malaysian immigration department arrested 309 migrants, including 102 Bangladeshis and two from India, for staying in violation of the movement control restrictions during an operation carried out at a settlement near a construction site in Dengkil town of Selangor state on Monday.

Among the other arrestees are 193 from Indonesia, eight from Myanmar and four from Vietnam, according to Malaysia's national news agency Bernama.

The arrestees, aged between 20 and 50, included 280 men and 29 women.

Malaysian Immigration Director-General Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said they had received information of individuals in the settlement staying in violation of the standard operating procedures of the movement control order (MCO).

Accordingly, the department raided the area and found that they did not comply with the MCO.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, Khairul Dzaimee said, "I arrived with the operations team and found that their settlement was dense, dirty and did not have a proper drainage system, apart from having a place to gather and eat in large numbers.

"They also admitted that they lived in a group in one room, which is about four to seven people."

Khairul Dzaimee said all those arrested would undergo Covid-19 testing, The Daily Star reported.

After the screening test, the migrants would be sent to Semenyih Immigration Depot to be detained and investigated in accordance with laws, before deportation, he added.

During the operation, the Immigration Department also inspected 10 Rohingya refugees who are United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders.

Of the 10, only two were arrested for possessing fake UNHCR cards, the immigration DG said.

(SAM)