SANDAKAN – A total of 316 illegal immigrants in Sabah were deported to Zamboanga, Philippines, from Sandakan Port here yesterday.
Sabah Immigration director Datuk Muhamad Sade Mohamad Amin said that they form the first batch of Filipino repatriates this year, sent back to their country after clearing a Covid-19 screening process.
They had been detained at the Tawau Immigration Depot since last year.
“The repatriation programme could not be conducted earlier this year because of the movement control order,” Sade said.
“However, we have successfully conducted the first phase of deportation this time, thanks to the close ties between the Sabah Immigration Department and the Philippines embassy,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said all the illegal immigrants were detained for various offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulation 1963.
These include Section 6(1)(c) for not having a valid pass/permit, Section 15(1)(c) for staying in Sabah longer than the allowed period, and Section 39 for breaking the terms of a pass or permit.
The deportation programme is part of a continuous activity to return unlawful migrants detained in the state’s immigration depots.
“We will continue to be committed in taking enforcement action and deporting illegal immigrants upon the completion of legal processes, and after getting confirmation from their respective embassies,” he said.
Deportation of illegal immigrants in Sabah is conducted frequently and in a series throughout the year.
Filipinos are usually deported to Zamboanga Port from Sandakan, while Indonesians are deported from Tawau. – The Vibes, March 7, 2021
