Overcrowding at immigration depots adds to government burden, says Saifuddin

PUTRAJAYA: The country's immigration depots, originally designed to hold 20,000 detainees, now house over 23,000 individuals, presenting operational challenges for the government. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail highlighted the issues arising from the overcrowding, including health problems, inter-detainee conflicts, and increased expenditure.

He addressed the Home Ministry's monthly assembly, explaining that the Immigration Department had been conducting enforcement operations continuously. Saifuddin also noted the court's refusal to halt the repatriation of Myanmar nationals, enabling ongoing discussions with Myanmar regarding the return of a second group. The Malaysian Bar had filed an ex-parte application to prevent the ministry from repatriating these individuals, but the court allowed the process to continue until a hearing on December 8.

Saifuddin stated that legal challenges from parties against the government would be addressed through the legal process, and the Attorney-General would represent the government at the hearing. The matter was discussed during the policy-stage debate on the 2027 Budget, with concerns raised about guarantees for the safety of repatriated Myanmar nationals.

Saifuddin defended the government's engagement with Myanmar's leadership, emphasizing its necessity for resolving the issue. He acknowledged that the presence of refugees posed a national problem with economic, political, and social implications. Saifuddin confirmed that a small number of individuals had resorted to attacking the homes of refugees and driving them from villages, leading the police to urge the public to leave enforcement matters to the Immigration Department.

In June, the Home Minister reported 465 deaths at immigration depots nationwide between 2021 and 2025, involving 349,856 detainees.