M’sia seeks faster repatriation of 5,000 undocumented Filipinos

Malaysia has sought to expedite the repatriation of over 5,000 undocumented Filipino migrants currently held in four immigration depots in Sabah. During the 9th Malaysia-Philippines Joint Commission Meeting, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan led a delegation to discuss measures to speed up the process. According to screening by the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur, more than 1,000 Filipinos are ready for immediate deportation.

The Malaysian minister expressed concern over the overcrowded detention centers and emphasized the need for the Philippine government to act swiftly in repatriating its citizens. Malaysia also pledged to support educational provisions for the children of the undocumented migrants, with the condition that any facilities must be managed by the Philippine government to ensure proper oversight.

The issue of Sabah's sovereignty was not directly addressed during the meeting, but Malaysia reiterated its position that Sabah is a sovereign part of Malaysia, backed by UN recognition.