TAWAU: Some 5,907 foreign nationals are currently detained at four Immigration Depots in the state – exceeding the maximum capacity.
Sabah Immigration Director Datuk SH Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said as the facilities are undergoing upgrades, the detention capacity at all depots would be reduced by half to allow the project to proceed smoothly.
She hopes the large-scale repatriation of approximately 500 Filipino detainees, scheduled for Aug. 29 through Sandakan port, would help alleviate some of the overcrowding. Sitti Saleha
“We were informed that a team from the Philippine Embassy is in Sabah, specifically at the Papar and Sandakan Immigration Depots, to process travel documents for their citizens who will be repatriated,” Sitti told a press conference at the Tawau Immigration Depot on Sunday.
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This process is crucial for ensuring that the repatriation programme for Filipinos and Indonesians proceeds smoothly and promptly, while also avoiding delays and extended detention at the Immigration Depots.
She said delays in repatriating the detainees are due to slow issuance of travel documents by the embassies concerned.
She commended the Indonesian consulate for efficient processing of travel documents, specially the Sijil Perjalanan Laksana Passport (SPLP) which facilitated the repatriation of its citizens.
Sitti said so far this year 4,010 illegal immigrants were deported in a series of exercises.
This number includes 1,532 Indonesians who were repatriated via Tawau Port to Nunukan Port, Tunon Taka Terminal, Indonesia, and 2,405 Filipinos who were sent via Sandakan.
Additionally, 38 members of the Palau community (sea gypsies) were expelled and sent to the border of their country’s waters.
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