KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian citizens make up the majority of the 2,581 deported undocumented migrants as of January 21, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said that Indonesians accounted for 41.8%, or 1,080 people, followed by Myanmar citizens at 399, and Bangladeshis at 301.
He added that 78% of the total are male, with 2,022 individuals.
"The Home Affairs Ministry and the Immigration Department continuously act to reduce the number of undocumented migrants, including increasing deportations to their home countries," said Saifuddin.
"For this, collaboration and negotiation efforts have been taken with foreign representatives to expedite the documentation process of undocumented migrants, including those without identification documents," he added on Tuesday (Feb 18).
Saifuddin was responding in a Parliamentary written answer to a question by Zahari Kechik (Perikatan-Jeli) who asked about the total number of deported undocumented migrants and efforts to address stateless individuals.
Saifuddin said individuals whose citizenship cannot be determined by foreign embassies are categorised as stateless.
"To ensure foreigners fall under the refugee category, they need to undergo evaluation and status determination processes set by the government," he said.
"If determined to be refugees, they would be subject to resettlement in a third country," added Saifuddin.
