Malaysia to construct two more detention centres in Sabah

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia plans to build two more temporary detention centres in Lahad Datu and Tawau in Sabah to check illegal immigrants into the country.

The two new centres will accommodate 3,000 detenus. The detention centres, costing RM50 million, are expected to be ready in 18 months, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

A total of 6,299 illegal immigrants are being held at the existing detention centres. "Among decisions made are continuous operations to curb the rising number of illegal immigrants, which will be carried out everyday," he said, reports New Straits Times.

Meanwhile, 162 illegal immigrants were detained in Kedah by the State Immigration Department on Thursday. They were detained under the on-going ‘Ops Sepadu’ programme at a construction site in Bandar Puteri Jaya. The operation involved 40 enforcement officers, 18 members from the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) and four officers from the Smuggling Prevention Unit (UPP).

Ops Sepadu said 200 immigrants were screened at the construction site and 162 of them aged between two and 61 were detained for not having valid documents. All those detained were sent off to the Belantik Detention Centre in Sik.

The cases are booked under the Immigration Act 1963.

July 31, 2015