LAHAD DATU: The Sabah Immigration Department repatriated 184 Filipinos and 10 Pakistanis to their country of origin via the Self-Financing programme before the beginning of Ramadan.
All the illegals involved aged between two and 75. A total of 184 Filipinos were repatriated to their respective destinations in Manila and Bongao, Philippines, while 10 Pakistanis were repatriated to Islamabad, Pakistan in the same week.
Its Director, Datuk SH Sitti Saleha Habib Yussuf, said to date a total of 1,202 illegals had been deported to their countries of origin.
"Those who participated in this programme had already served their respective sentences and own travel documents or valid international passports to qualify for joining this programme,” she said, in a statement on Saturday.
In the meantime, she said the department would not compromise with any foreign nationals found abusing the country’s laws and regulations.
Prosecution will be imposed on employers and premises owners who employ foreign nationals without valid travel documents and passports as well as the individuals who violate the terms of the pass or permit as stated under Act 155 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
She also reminded employers and the community to hire the foreigners to work in this country via proper channel and the department will intensify enforcement operations from time to time to combat the presence of illegal immigrants.
