SANDAKAN: The State Immigration Department deported 542 Filipinos on Wednesday via sea on the MV Antonia 1 ferry from Sandakan Port to Zamboanga, in the Philippines.
Those deported comprised 422 men and 92 women aged between 13 and 78, as 24 children under the age of 12 and four toddlers aged 23 months and under.
The children involved in the repatriation are with their respective mothers, fathers and guardians, said Sabah Immigration Director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yusoff, Thursday.
She said that the deportation was part of the Department’s ongoing operations in Immigration depots throughout the State.
“Those deported this time were solely Filipinos from the Kota Kinabalu, Papar and Tawau Immigration depots,” she said.
She said those deported were detained for a variety of offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
She said that the Department is committed to enforcing and deporting illegal immigrants once they have completed all legal procedures and received confirmation from their respective embassies.
On that note, she reminded foreigners to enter Malaysia with legitimate travel documents and work permits.
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