Nothing political in deportations: Council
Published on: Thursday, February 08, 2018
Sandakan: Some 566,191 illegal immigrants have been deported from the State since 1990. National Security Council Sabah Director Datuk Rodzi Md Saad said the number included those deported since last year to Feb 6, this year, with a total of 13,540, while January alone recorded 1,576 people. "The deportations reflect the Government's continuous commitment to address the illegal immigrant issue in the State," he said, adding that it was carried out through numerous integrated operations with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), police, Immigration and the Civil Defence Force.
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He said the effort to see the country free of illegal immigrants should not be considered as the Government's responsibility alone. "Everyone, including the public and employers, should do his or her part in addressing the problem by channelling information and by not employing or protecting illegal immigrants," he said after monitoring the deportation of 790 Filipinos to Zamboanga in the Philippines via Sandakan Port, here, Tuesday night. The illegals were deported on board MV Antonia 1. The deportees, aged between eight days old and 70, comprised 560 men, 188 women and 42 children.
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Rodzi was also brought to inspect the MV Antonia 1, including the room space (dorm and suite), facilities and dining room which can accommodate about 800 passengers at any one time. On another note, he said the deportation was not politically motivated and hoped certain parties would not make assumptions or speculations by saying that it was implemented because of politics in Sabah.
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"The Government, and the Sabah National Security Council in general, acts in line with the country's laws and have at all times complied with the standard operating procedures. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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