375 illegals held in KK, P’pang

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KOTA KINABALU: A total of 373 illegal immigrants have been detained in 18 operations, here and in Penampang by the Special Task Force during a two-day operation which began on Thursday.

Special Task Force secretary (Sabah) Rodzi Md Saad said those detained were between the ages of eight months and 58 comprising the Philippines and Indonesian nationals.

He said those detained were from among 804 people who had their documents checked since the integrated operation started at 10am on April 2.

The operation involved agencies from the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), Chief Minister’s Department, Immigration Department, Registrar Department, City Hall, Sabah Civil Defence Department (JPAM) and People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela).

“Eighteen operations were carried out at construction sites and illegal squatters around the state capital and in Penampang.

“During the two-day operation, about 804 people were rounded up to have their documents checked and from the figures, 375 people were subsequently detained for staying in the country illegally,” he said when met at the Sembulan Community Centre at the end of the operations.

Rodzi added that among those detained were three Pakistani citizens.

He said those detained would be investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Amendment 2002).

Rodzi also said that the operation and continuous operations were carried out based on the RM2.3 million allocations received from the federal government.

He said the allocation would be added by the Finance Ministry depending on the progress of such operation in the future.

Meanwhile, Rodzi said since January this year, 6,053 illegal immigrants had been deported back to their countries of origin.

“As of today (yesterday) there are still 5,964 illegal immigrants being detained at four temporarily detention centers in Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Sandakan and Tawau,” he said.

About 1,071 people are currently being detained at temporary detention centre in Kota Kinabalu, 2,385 people in Papar, 1,095 people in Sandakan and 1,403 people in Tawau.