LAHAD DATU: The Sabah Immigration Department deported another 180 Filipino illegals through the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, here, on Friday.
State Immigration Director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the exercise involved detainees at the Sandakan Immigration Depots comprising 79 men, 38 women, 29 boys and 34 girls aged between 1 and 80.
They were sent home to Bongao Jetty, Philippines by MV Ming Hai Express ferry on a self-financing programme.
“All the deportees had committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963 for entering the State without a valid permit or pass, as well as overstaying, and have served their prison sentences,” she said.
According to Sh Sitti Saleha, the department has to date sent back 6,185 Filipinos and a total of 8,842 foreign illegals to their countries of origin.
She said, all the illegal immigrants will be blacklisted according to the type of offences committed.
In the meantime, Sh Sitti Saleha said, the frequency of illegal immigrants deportation process is subject to the immediate and continuous issuance of Travel Documents by the Philippines Embassy in Malaysia, which is an important element to speed up the process of transferring detainees to their countries of origin.
She said, the deportation is part of the ongoing operation of Sabah Immigration which is carried out from time to time for all detainees in Sabah Immigration Depots to avoid long period detention in Malaysia.
“The department would not compromise with any foreign nationals found abusing the country’s laws and regulations.
“We will intensify enforcement operations from time to time to combat the presence of illegal immigrants in our country,” she said.
She also reminded employers and the community to hire the foreigners to work in this country via proper channel.
