TAWAU: A total of 225 undocumented Indonesian immigrants (PATI) were deported to their home country via Tawau port by the Sabah Immigration Department, last Thursday.
Its Director, Datuk SH Sitti Saleha Habib Yussuf, said the group comprised 194 men, 30 women, and one female child, aged between one and 69 years old.
AdvertisementThe deportation was carried out through the Detainee Transfer Program under the “deportation via sea” category, from Tawau to Nunukan using the Purnama Express and Labuan Express ferries.
“This latest deportation brings the total number of Indonesian illegals deported this year to 391, while the total number of foreigners repatriated to their home countries stands at 664,” she said.
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All those deported would be blacklisted in the JIM system according to the nature of their offenses. Undocumented Indonesian immigrants being deported by JIM Sabah.
AdvertisementMeanwhile, the frequency of Indonesian PATI deportation transfers depends on the continuous issuance of the Temporary Passport Substitute Certificate (SPLP) by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Kota Kinabalu and the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia (KRI) in Tawau.
Sitti said JIM Sabah would not compromise with any foreign nationals who misuse their passes or privileges.
AdvertisementLegal action will be taken against employers and business premises that hire undocumented foreign workers without proper identification documents and valid permits.
The same applies to those who violate the terms of their permits, as stipulated under Act 155 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
Some 76 Filipinos were also deported the day earlier via the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Lahad Datu.
They comprised 48 men, 11 women, 12 boys and 5 girls aged between three months and 76 years.
They were sent home by sea from Sandakan via Lahad Datu ICQS to Bongao Jetty, Philippines, via the MV Ming Hai Express ferry.
She said all the expenses were borne by the migrants themselves.
“These individuals had committed offences under Section 15(1)(c) and 6(1)(c) of Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) and Immigration Regulations 1963 for entering Sabah without valid permits or overstaying.
“Those who participated in this programme had already served prison sentences. All the illegals have been blacklisted in our system according to the offences they committed,” she said.
Since early 2025 to date, the Immigration Department has deported 221 Filipinos via sea, making a total of 437 illegal immigrants who have been repatriated to their country of origin.
