KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — The Immigration Department today denied claims that a Myanmar teenage girl was among those repatriated to Myanmar yesterday, saying she remains in custody at an immigration detention depot.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said checks by the department found that the teenager was not involved in the September 29 repatriation programme, which saw Myanmar nationals transported home aboard Myanmar naval vessels.
“Checks by the department confirmed that the individual remains detained at an Immigration depot and was not involved in the repatriation programme for Myanmar nationals via Myanmar military vessels yesterday,” he said in a statement.
The department said the clarification followed a viral social-media post alleging that the Myanmar teenager had been sent back under the programme, although it did not identify the account behind the post or provide further details about the girl.
The claim emerged as Malaysia yesterday began repatriating 1,476 Myanmar detainees from 14 immigration depots, comprising 1,370 men, 79 women, 20 boys and seven girls.
Zakaria said the department was aware of concerns over the safety and welfare of detainees, adding that humanitarian considerations were taken into account in enforcing immigration laws and procedures.
The department also said immigration depots were managed in accordance with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, or Nelson Mandela Rules, as well as domestic regulations governing immigration depots.
It urged the public not to circulate unverified information that could cause confusion over the department’s actions and procedures.
