Another 180 Filipino illegals deported via Lahad Datu

21 Dec 2024 • 10:40 AM MYT
Daily Express
Daily Express

Daily Express Online (Malaysia) is Sabah's top-ranked & most viewed English news site. It is also Sabah's leading & most circulated daily English newspaper.

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By: Azmie Lim

LAHAD DATU: The Sabah Immigration Department deported another 180 Filipino illegals through the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, here, Friday.

State Immigration Director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the exercise involved detainees at the Sandakan and Tawau Immigration Depots.

AdvertisementShe said the deportees comprised 64 men, 67 women and 49 children aged between seven months and 67. The children were accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

“They were sent home to Bongao Jetty, Philippines by MV Ming Hai Express ferry on a self-financing programme.

SPONSORED CONTENT Shell Sabah Deepwater Production Manager Earns Unsung Hero Award Daily Express had the opportunity to interview Musti whose story reflects the power of determination and resilience. Read more “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,” she said.

She said the department has to date sent back 5,993 Filipinos and a total of 8,650 foreign illegals to their countries of origin.

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“The implementation of the illegals repatriation programme by the Sabah Immigration Department is subject to issuance of travel documents from the Philippines Embassy in Malaysia,” she said.

Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Sh Sitti Saleha said 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 added.