KOTA KINABALU: A total of 709 undocumented Filipino migrants were deported to Zamboanga City from Sandakan port on Wednesday (March 26).
They included men, women, and children, with some as young as three months, who were detained at the Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Tawau immigration depots.
Sabah Immigration Director Datuk SH Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the latest deportation exercise was part of the department’s continuous efforts to reduce prolonged detention and repatriate migrants who had completed legal procedures.
"All of the undocumented migrants had served their prison sentences and completed the necessary travel documents issued by the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines," she said in a statement.
She said the deportees had committed offences under Sections 15(1)(c) and 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying or entering Malaysia without valid documents.
"All individuals deported will be blacklisted in the Malaysian Immigration Department’s system according to the type of offence committed," she added.
So far, a total of 2,700 Filipinos have been sent home under this programme, bringing the total number of repatriated undocumented migrants to 3,528.
This includes 733 Indonesians, 53 Pakistanis, 32 Chinese nationals, three Vietnamese, and seven individuals of other nationalities.
The repatriation was carried out using ferry MV Antonia 1, which operates direct routes from Sabah to Zamboanga City.
The frequency of such operations depends on the continued issuance of travel documents by the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia.
"The Sabah Immigration Department will not compromise with any foreign nationals who abuse immigration passes or facilities," Sitti Saleha said.
She said employers and premises owners hiring undocumented migrants would face legal action, along with those who violate permit conditions.
She reminded employers to use legal recruitment channels, adding that enforcement operations would continue from time to time to address the presence of undocumented migrants in Sabah.
