KAJANG: A working paper will be presented to the Cabinet soon on the move to transfer children out from immigration detention depots, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the ministry was in the final stage of collecting data on the number, age and locations of children detained at such depots in the country.
The ministry has held several engagements with stakeholders and experts, he added.
“Currently, there are 1,030 children in 20 immigration detention depots and they comprise 579 boys and 451 girls.
“Of the total, 351 are in the detention depots with their guardians,” he told a press conference at the sahur (pre-dawn meal) programme at the Semenyih immigration detention depot here yesterday, reported Bernama.
On official duty: Saifuddin Nasution (second from left) attending a sahur programme in Semenyih. With him is Ruslin Jusoh (left). — Bernama
Also present was Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh.Saifuddin Nasution said his ministry is striving to look after the welfare of children who are in immigration detention depots by ensuring they have access to education and health, as well as being given appropriate treatment should they fall sick.
“So far, there are five immigration detention depots that provide classes for these children, including ones at the Semenyih depot here, the Pekan Nenas depot in Johor and Belantik in Kedah,” he said.
He said the classes are being conducted by the staff of the immigration detention depots on a voluntary basis.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution said a total of 14,139 illegal immigrants have been deported between January and April 12 and they comprised 10,625 men, 2,907 women, 364 boys and 243 girls. Of these, 5,571 were Indonesians, followed by Myanmar (3,285) and Filipinos (2,203).
On the duration of detention before their deportation, he said that would depend on how quickly the documentation can be completed by the country of origin.
“So far, Indonesia is the fastest country to provide documentation for its citizens who are detained here,” he added.
