KUALA LUMPUR — An enforcement operation at an entertainment centre in Bukit Bintang turned chaotic early this morning when an officer from the Malaysian Immigration Department was injured after being rammed by a foreign national attempting to escape.
The incident occurred during a raid that began at about 3.15am at a premises in the busy Bukit Bintang area, a well-known entertainment hub in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The operation was aimed at checking the status of foreign nationals and ensuring compliance with immigration laws.
Immigration Enforcement Division Director Basri Othman said the suspect acted aggressively while officers were carrying out inspections inside the building. In the confusion that followed, the suspect rammed into one of the officers on a staircase, causing him to fall.
The injured officer is believed to have suffered a broken left leg and was immediately rushed to hospital for treatment. He is reported to be in stable condition. The suspect managed to flee the scene and efforts are ongoing to track him down.
The operation involved 85 officers and personnel, including 15 members from the Special Tactical Force, known as PASTAK. A total of 98 foreign nationals were checked during the raid, and 48 of them were detained for various immigration-related offences.
According to Basri, the offences included overstaying and failure to produce valid identification documents. Those detained comprised individuals from Myanmar, Thailand and several African countries.
In a separate development, two Nigerian men were arrested for allegedly misusing their student passes. Investigations revealed that they were working as DJs at the entertainment centre, which is not permitted under the conditions of their passes. They are being investigated under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for violating the terms of their stay.
Basri added that many of the patrons were found in a dazed state, believed to be under the influence of alcohol, when the enforcement team conducted the inspection. Initial investigations also uncovered that the premises had engaged foreign women who handled bookings and negotiated payment rates over the phone.
All detainees have been taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further investigation and necessary action. Authorities have reiterated that enforcement operations will continue to ensure that immigration laws are respected and that public order is maintained.
The incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by enforcement officers in carrying out their duties, especially during late-night operations in high-risk areas.
