A food hawker's attempts to secure work permits for his foreign workers turned into a nightmare when he was slapped with an Immigration Department fine of RM100,000.

Pang Yee Wah said he had been cheated of about the same amount when he tried to engage two agents to secure work permits for his 14 workers.

"I tried to get them permits, I tried to do whatever I could so they would have permits.

"Finally, I (could lose) RM100,000 and my workers are arrested," Pang told Malaysiakini.