KALABAKAN – The government has had to postpone the repatriation of over 2,000 irregular migrants from Sabah to their countries of origin following Covid-19 outbreaks at temporary detention centres (PTS).
Deputy Home Minister Jonathan Yasin said these detainees are from the Philippines and Indonesia, and are being held at the Sandakan and Tawau PTS, respectively.
“Based on records, about 200 irregular migrants from Indonesia should have been repatriated this week. In fact, the ship to ferry them back to their country has arrived in Tawau,” he told reporters here yesterday.
However, Jonathan said, his ministry had received a request from the Indonesian authority concerned for the repatriation be postponed to reduce the risk of the viral infection.
“The Philippine government has also raised concern over the repatriation, causing us to defer it, involving about 2,000 irregular migrants back to Zamboanga and who are now being held at the PTS in Sandakan,” he added.
According to him, the repatriation process can commence once the Covid-19 outbreaks involving irregular migrants held at the PTS are under control.
Yesterday morning, Jonathan was with Sabah immigration director Datuk Muhamad Sade Mohamad Amin, observing the Patuh Bersepadu operation at Kg Tanah Merah, Merotai Besar, here.
The enforcement operation from midnight until 3am yesterday, involving 94 immigration officers and other personnel, managed to detain 92 factory workers for committing various offences, including overstaying in the country.
Jonathan said those arrested will be placed at transit centres to separate them from other detainees at the PTS.
“Before taking them to the transit centres, they will be sanitised and screened for Covid-19, which the Health Ministry will handle,” he added. – Bernama, August 5, 2021
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