Immigration Director-General Khairul Dzaimee Daud has denied a report by Tamil daily Malaysian Nanban alleging that a raid was carried out on the grounds of the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves, Selangor.

"The enforcement operation carried out on Feb 14 by the Selangor Immigration Department's Enforcement Division was not conducted in the Sri Subramaniar Temple's worship area. Operations were only conducted in the area of business around the temple grounds," Khairul (photo) said in a statement today.

"In connection with these operations, the Immigration received a complaint from an NGO about foreigners trading in the stalls near the temple.

"In addition, we also conducted surveillance and found foreigners doing business in the area," he said.

In the incident, two men were arrested separately on Saturday evening and early Sunday morning after allegedly provoking Immigration officers and obstructing them from carrying out their duties during the raid.

They have been remanded for three days to help with investigations into an incident which saw a group of men surrounding officers while they carried out their duties.

"The Immigration Department conducts operations based on public complaints and information received through telephone calls, letters, emails and the Public Complaints Management System," said Khairul.

"The department has always implemented enforcement actions with integrity and fairness and in complete compliance with operating procedures," he added.

He said that for the year 2020 (Jan 1- Feb 14), 21 operations have been carried out in wholesale markets with 138 people investigated and 89 illegal immigrants arrested.

Over the same period, the Immigration Department has conducted a total of 2,292 enforcement operations throughout Malaysia with a total of 28,994 people investigated.

Out of this, 7,760 illegal immigrants and 135 employers have been arrested, he said.