Malaysian Immigration Department detained 89 foreigners of eight nationalities including 15 Bangladeshis for various immigration offences in a raid at a plywood factory in Kedah state on Tuesday.

A Malaysian was also arrested for allegedly harbouring the foreigners, reports The Star Online today.

Department Director Mohamad Yusri Hashim said the foreigners arrested comprised of 26 Nepalis, 21 Indonesians, 21 Vietnamese, 15 Bangladeshis, two Chinese nationals, two Pakistanis, a Cambodian and a Myanmar national.

Yusri said the Chinese nationals tried to escape but were arrested shortly afterwards.

"It is believed that they were employed as technicians to repair the factory's plywood processing machines which were made in China," he added.

Officials at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur are not informed about the matter.