KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian woman chose to stay in Malaysia illegally, enduring life in a cramped rented room rather than return home and struggle to find work.

"I don't have any money to go back," she said.

The woman, in her 40s, was among 24 undocumented migrants rounded up by the Immigration Department during an operation in a commercial area on Jalan Permata, Ulu Klang, early this morning.

She admitted that she preferred living cramped illegally in a small rented room hidden behind a four-storey shop rather than return to her village.

She claimed that it was difficult to find work in her home country, prompting her decision to come to Malaysia to earn a living and support her family.

"I entered legally several years ago and had a passport, but I came here to find work. I work as a cleaner and earn RM1,400, sending RM500 to RM600 back home," she said.

"Here, I only pay RM200 for a rented room, which I share with a friend from Indonesia. We're not from the same village, but we work at the same place," she added.

Kuala Lumpur Immigration director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said the raid followed public complaints about the presence of undocumented migrants in the area.

He said a total of 39 people were inspected during the operation, which began at around 1am.

"They included 10 locals, 26 Indonesians, 3 Bangladeshis, 1 Pakistani, and 5 Nepalis.

"In total, 24 undocumented migrants were detained, comprising 13 men and 11 women. Eighteen are from Indonesia, five from Nepal, and one from Bangladesh," he said.

He added that all foreigners were held under Section 15(1)(c) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.