TAWAU: The State Immigration Department deported a total of 220 Indonesians from the Kota Kinabalu, Papar and Sandakan Immigration Depots to their home country.
This brings the total number of Indonesian illegal immigrants (PTI) deported so far to 612.
Sabah Immigration Director Datuk Sh. Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the total number of PTIs deported under the Foreign Detainee Repatriation Operation now stands at 2,699.
“The latest deportees are aged between eight months and 67 years,” she said, adding they were transferred from Sabah using Labuan Express and Francis Express ferries to Nunukan Island, Indonesia.
“All the deportees have served their respective sentences according to legal provisions and possess valid temporary passport documents.
“These documents were issued by the Indonesian Consulate General to enable them to undergo the foreign repatriation process,” she said.
Saleha stressed that the department will not compromise with foreign nationals who misuse their visas and the facilities granted to them.
“Employers and premises owners who hire foreign workers without valid travel documents and permits will also face prosecution,” she said, and advised employers and the local community to use proper legal channels when hiring foreign workers.
