Deportation process of illegals set for next week
Illegal immigrants currently held at Immigration depots nationwide will be deported to their respective countries starting next week, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The Senior Minister (Security) said the repatriation process would start with Indonesians on June 6.
“All illegal Indonesians will undergo Covid-19 test via the Rapid Test Kit Antigen method first in the presence of officials from the Indonesian embassy.
“The first phase will involve 2,189 Indonesians, who are currently held at Immigration depots in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, as well as 672 at depots in Sabah,” he told reporters during the daily briefing yesterday.
From the total, the first group will consist of 450 illegals to be deported via three flights to Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya, followed by 445 illegals on June 10 to the same destinations.
Ismail Sabri said phase two would involve 2,623 illegals to be deported within two months.
“On behalf of the Malaysian government, I would like to thank Indonesia for their cooperation.”
Currently, the Immigration Department and Wisma Putra are having talks with Nepalese and Bangladeshi officials to send back 246 Nepalese illegals and 2,476 Bangladeshi illegals.
“The Cambodian embassy has also expressed their willingness to assist in the deportation of 67 of their citizens.
“We hope other countries will come forward and cooperate in taking back their citizens held at depots nationwide,” Ismail Sabri said.
So far, a total of 4,807 illegal immigrants, who are placed at Immigation depots in Bukit Jalil, Semenyih and KLIA as well as Immigration personnel have undergone Covid-19 screenings.
“A total of 385 tested positive, including an Immigration personnel at the Semenyih depot while 37 others are still awaiting results.
“Those who tested positive will be sent to the quarantine centre at MAEPS, Serdang. So far, 26 illegal immigrants have been discharged,” he said.
Ismail Sabri also rubbished a viral video of a Bangladeshi settlement, supposedly in Sungai Buloh.
“The video was actually taken two years ago.”