Fifteen foreigners were arrested by the police outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kuala Lumpur today.

The police had set up a roadblock about five metres away from the office, similar to a crackdown initiated last August which saw the arrest of nearly 200 people. The sting had also led UNHCR to temporarily suspend its operations.

However, UNHCR chief Volker Turk, who confirmed this morning's arrest, does not believe it is a prelude to a large-scale dragnet.

"I think this was just a normal police operation, you can't compare it with last year's operation," he said, adding that documented migrants were not arrested

"It's a good thing those who have documents were not arrested this time. Last year was a massive arrest and those with documents were arrested too," he said when contacted.

On the same note, Turk expressed concern with the roadblocks being set-up outside the premises of the refugee agency.

"I have raised this with the authorities, nobody should be denied from seeking protection from UNHCR. That would be a violation of the international declaration," he stressed.

Turrk said UNHCR officers visited the Brickfields district police headquarters, where the 15 are being held, but were told to come back tomorrow.

Enforcing the law

Meanwhile, Brickfields police chief Zulhasnan Najib said those arrested did not have proper documents.

"We are just enforcing the law. Those who have no documents and enter Malaysia illegally, we have the power to arrest them. I have to follow the law," he added when contacted.

He did not divulge the country of origin of the 15.

Asked if there would be more such operations, he replied: "I can't tell you this but there will be on-going operations whenever and wherever."

In June 2002, the police detained 135 illegal immigrants who were waiting outside the UNHCR to apply for asylum.

Malaysia has not ratified the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, a treaty long recognised by other states as customary international law.