Sabah repatriates 4,750 undocumented migrants

In Sabah, authorities have repatriated a total of 4,750 undocumented migrants from various nationalities this year, according to the Sabah immigration department. The majority of these individuals are Filipinos, numbering 3,008, followed by Indonesians at 1,478, Pakistanis at 118, Chinese at 109, Vietnamese at 18, and 19 others of diverse nationalities.

The repatriation process involves migrants who have completed their sentences for offenses under different laws and have obtained valid travel documents, such as a passport substitute (SPLP), in lieu of their original identification. Recently, 144 Indonesian nationals were transported via a commercial ferry, including 107 adult men, 26 adult women, four boys, and seven girls, all of whom were detained in the Kota Kinabalu, Papar, and Sandakan immigration depots.

The recent discussions between Malaysia and the Philippines aim to expedite the repatriation of over 5,000 undocumented Philippine migrants held in four immigration depots in Sabah. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan revealed that screening by the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur identified more than 1,000 Filipinos ready for immediate deportation by sea or alternative means.

The detention centers have become overwhelmed with the high number of detainees, necessitating these urgent repatriation efforts following the 9th Malaysia-Philippines Joint Commission Meeting in Manila.