Five Filipinos arrested in Malaysia for illegal stay

SIBU, Malaysia—A Filipino in his 40s, who has been in the state illegally for 12 years, was caught in a joint raid conducted by police and the Sarawak Islamic Department (Jais) at a pub here.

The raid under Ops Noda was conducted on Thursday, and the man was having drinks with two compatriots in their 30s — they were also illegal immigrants.

What was even more shocking was that the man married a local woman and can even speak Iban reasonably well.

The trio were detained under Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 (Amended 2002) for failing to produce any valid travelling document.

Also detained were two women, also from the Philippines.

They were in town on social visit passes but had worked as guest relations officers, which contravened Section 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1959/1963.

They were caught sitting with two men from Peninsular Malaysia who were here for work.

The names of the two women also appeared on the drinks receipts.

Meanwhile, three Muslim men and a Muslim woman, who were caught drinking in the pub by Jais officers, were let off with a warning.

In two other raids earlier the same day, police also caught 35 Indian nationals from two houses — one in Rejang Park and the other in Jalan Ruby.

Sixteen did not have valid travelling documents.

The other 19 had abused their social travelling permits under Section 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1959/1963 for working here.

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