SIXTEEN employers were among 1,035 foreigners, including three chidren, detained in the first day of a nationwide crackdown on illegals yesterday, The Star reports.

This comes following the passing of the Enforcement Card, or E-card, deadline on June 30.

Immigration director-general Mustafar Ali said as at 1pm yesterday, enforcement officers inspected 155 premises around the country, screening 3,393 people.

Of those rounded up, he said the majority were from Bangladesh at 515, followed by Indonesia (135), Myanmar (102), the Philip­pines (50), Thailand (five) and Vietnam (two). 

The rest were from other countries, he said, adding that those detained included 101 women and three children.

“The 16 employers were held for hiring and harbouring illegals,” he said, adding that Johor had the highest number of those caught, followed by Kelantan. – July 2, 2017.