MBAS Conducts Continuous Monitoring To Curb Illegal Business By Foreigners

By Ima Aimi Nadia Ibrahim

ALOR SETAR, June 10 (Bernama) -- The Alor Setar City Council (MBAS) is conducting continuous monitoring of business activities within its administrative area to curb licence abuse and illegal operations, particularly involving foreigners.

Alor Setar Mayor Datuk Abdul Ghafar Yahya said a series of integrated operations have been conducted by the MBAS Enforcement Division together with the Kedah Immigration Department, Kota Setar District Police Headquarters and the Kota Setar District Office to curb such activities since last year.

“Several categories of premises employing foreign workers have been identified and inspected, including 73 car wash outlets, 64 restaurants and 20 sundry shops.

“Enforcement operations are also carried out in areas identified as hotspots for foreigners, such as the city centre (Jalan Langgar) and construction sites,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

He said that so far, MBAS has not detected any cases of foreigners abusing their visas to run businesses in the city.

“MBAS would like to emphasise that business licences are issued only to Malaysian applicants, and licensees must comply with the conditions set.

“Among them, licensees are not allowed to employ foreign workers without a valid pass or work permit, in accordance with the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963,” he said.

In addition, Abdul Ghafar said applicants are required to submit details and a list of foreign workers at their premises, as well as ensure that copies of valid work permits are provided when required.

He said foreign workers are also not allowed to work at the front counter of premises as cashiers, while approved business licences cannot be sublet or leased to any foreign nationals.

Abdul Ghafar stressed that any violation of the conditions may result in enforcement action in accordance with the law and the terms of the licence in force.

Meanwhile, Consumers’ Association of Kedah (CAKE) president Mohd Yusrizal Yusoff said the issue of foreigners involved in unauthorised business activities, as raised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, should be taken seriously by all stakeholders.

“The public has long raised concerns about foreigners coming in on visitor or student visas and running businesses for profit, affecting the local economy.

“We are the ones who have to compete with them. Foreigners run businesses without licences, while local people have to comply with licence conditions, permits and various rules set,” he said.

In this regard, he proposed that large-scale integrated operations involving the police, the Immigration Department and related agencies be carried out continuously to curb illegal business activities and visa abuse by foreigners.

On Monday, Anwar expressed concern over the growing number of foreigners misusing visitor and student visas to engage in business activities in Malaysia, including in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector.

-- BERNAMA