Immigration authorities have deported 709 undocumented Filipino nationals from Sabah to the Philippines, as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration.

The group, which included both adults and children aged between three months and 70 years, was transferred from immigration detention centres in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Tawau.

According to the Sabah Immigration Department, the individuals were deported via the Sandakan port on March 26 using the MV Antonia 1 ferry, which travels directly to Zamboanga City.

“This is part of our continuous effort to manage overcrowding in immigration depots and ensure that repatriation is carried out in accordance with the law,” said Sabah Immigration Director Datuk SH Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof.

She said all detainees had completed their prison sentences for immigration offences and were deported after receiving travel documents from the Philippine embassy.

The offences include entering Malaysia without valid documents and overstaying, in violation of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and its related regulations.

So far this year, 2,700 Filipinos have been deported from Sabah — the largest number among foreign nationals. 

Other groups included 733 Indonesians, 132 Chinese nationals, 53 Pakistanis, three Vietnamese, and seven others, bringing the total number of deportees to 3,528.

The frequency of future repatriation exercises depends on the timely issuance of travel documents by the Philippine embassy, said Sitti. 

Towards this end, she warned legal action would be taken against employers who hire undocumented workers or allow breaches of immigration pass conditions.

She urged employers to adhere to legal recruitment processes and said enforcement operations would be intensified in the coming months. – March 28, 2025