KOTA KINABALU: Over 200 Indonesian nationals who committed immigration offences in Sabah have been deported, after serving their time here.
This is a continuation of the Immigration Department’s deportation exercise in the state, with this latest initiative on Feb 13, involving 225 people comprising 194 men, 30 women and a toddler.
Sabah Immigration Department director Datuk Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the detainees were sent home via sea routes, from the Tawau Port to Nunukan, Indonesia at their own expense.
All these Indonesians were placed in the Sandakan and Tawau Immigration depot prior to this, she said.
She said this latest deportation makes the total number of people sent back to Indonesia 391 to date, whereas the overall deported reached 664 people as of Feb 13.
Sitti said the department works closely with the Indonesian government in the deportation of all its nationals.
“We will not compromise on any immigration crimes, and will continue to conduct operations and deportation exercises,” she said.
Anyone, including employers and house owners, found harbouring or employing illegal immigrants will be prosecuted as well, she warned.
Earlier on the same day, another Indonesian woman and a Pakistani man were also deported, but via air routes from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
