MALAYSIA: A total of 220 illegal expatriates, including 61 Bangladeshis, were held from Malaysia’s Cameron Highland area in a special drive against illegal migrants started from November 1.

The detainees are also from India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

They are now kept in the detention centers.

Malaysia army personnel along with police forces took part in the drives against the illegal migrants.

Sources said that as Cameron Highland is a hilly area, famous for tea and strawberry cultivations, locals are not interested to work there.

So, the foreign workers are preferred by the farm owners, the sources added.

Earlier on November 5, flood and landslide at Kampung Raja, Ringlet and Lembah Bertam in the Cameron Highlands, left five people dead.

Following the incident, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on November 22 directed the police and the armed forces to mobilize more personnel at the Cameron Highlands to nab the illegal workers.

The farm owners of the area became unhappy with the decision as they are totally dependant on foreign workers. Many workers have already left their workplaces following the decision.

The swoop of the law enforcers has put an awful impact on their business, the local businessmen claimed.

BDST: 1912 HRS, NOV 27, 2014