Some 4,000 deportations in 35 days

SANDAKAN: Intensive deportation measures by the National Security Council (MKN) has seen 4,169 illegal immigrants being sent back to their country of origin in 35 days (from Nov 15 until Tuesday).

Sabah MKN director Datuk Rodzi Md Saad said from January until Tuesday, 22,617 illegal immigrants had been deported.

Overall, from 1990 until Tuesday, a total of 552,558 illegal immigrants were deported from Sabah.

He said the statistics showed the government’s commitment in fulfilling its promise to continuously root out illegal immigrants from Sabah through the integrated actions of various agencies, headed by the state MKN.

According to Rodzi, the operation to detain and send home the immigrants would always continue to be a priority, fulfilling the aspirations of the people and the government that want Sabah to be free of illegal immigrants.

This was also in line with the government’s decision made through the state Main Committee on Foreign Migrant Management, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, he said in a statement yesterday.

Three hundred and ninetyeight illegal immigrants were repatriated to Zamboanga, Philippines from Sandakan port yesterday.

From the number, 195 were from the Kota Kinabalu temporary detention centre ( PTS), 201 were from Papar PTS while another two were held at Sandakan PTS.

Rodzi said as many as 3,795 illegals were detained at four PTS, namely, 724 at Kota Kinabalu PTS, 1,523 at Papar PTS, 477 at Sibuga PTS and 1,071 at Tawau PTS. — Bernama