Malaysian authorities have announced the arrest of four foreign nationals who were allegedly working as dancers without the required residency or work permits.
The Immigration Department described the men as members of the LGBT community. They have been taken into custody while investigations continue.
The men, described as three Chinese nationals and one Filipino national aged between 21 and 31, were detained during a raid on an entertainment venue on Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur. The operation involved immigration officers and personnel from the National Anti-Drug Agency.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the raid followed surveillance and a month-long intelligence-gathering operation.
“The entertainment centre, which has been operating since last year, is believed to offer entertainment and dance performances by foreign nationals from the LGBT community, targeting local and foreign customers in the Klang Valley,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
The raid resulted in the arrest of the four men.
“Initial checks found that they did not have valid travel documents or passes to remain in the country,” he said.
The men are currently being held at the Putrajaya Immigration Office while investigations continue.
