KUALA LUMPUR: While the repatriation of nearly 46,000 foreign nationals this year will ease detention depot overcrowding, experts say stronger border controls and action against smuggling syndicates are needed to tackle illegal immigration.
They also called for better management of immigration depots through the use of modern technology to improve efficiency and prevent misconduct.
Crime analyst and criminologist Datuk Shahul Hamid Abd Rahim said repatriation was an important part of immigration management, but its impact could be short-lived if the networks enabling illegal entry and demand for undocumented workers were not addressed.
“Repatriation is one instrument of migration management, not a complete solution,” he said, stressing that enforcement must also target syndicates, unscrupulous recruiters, local agents and employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers.
Shahul Hamid called on the Immigration Department to introduce a comprehensive case management system to track each detainee’s status, identity verification, travel documents and expected repatriation date to help the authorities identify and resolve delays earlier.
Voluntary repatriation programmes could help reduce the number of detainees, he said, but should complement rather than replace improvements to detention management.
He said overcrowding, prolonged detention and access to healthcare required urgent attention, adding that detainees’ safety, health and dignity must be protected alongside immigration law enforcement.
“Every detainee should undergo an initial medical screening and receive timely treatment.
“The capacity of each depot should also be assessed regularly, with measures to ease overcrowding and improve living conditions when detainee numbers exceed safe limits,” he added.
Meanwhile, criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy said repatriation could help improve national security by reducing the number of undocumented migrants, but being in the country illegally did not automatically make someone a criminal.
“Security assessments must be based on individual circumstances and credible evidence, not nationality, ethnicity or appearance.
“The effectiveness of repatriation also depends on whether Malaysia addresses the networks facilitating illegal entry, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, document forgery and the exploitation of foreign workers,” he said.
“Repatriation must be backed by stronger border controls, intelligence-sharing with neighbouring countries, identity verification and measures to prevent repeat illegal entry,” he said.
Malaysians Against Rape, Assault and Snatch Thief (Marah) founder Dave Avran said it’s about how many people are repatriated, but whether the same security failures can be prevented from recurring.
“Immigration Department must move beyond counting repatriations and measure outcomes, such as the number of repeat offenders identified and trafficking or document-forgery networks dismantled,” he said.
