Sabah MKN Deports 450 Filipinos

SANDAKAN (Sabah, Malaysia) Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The National Security Council (MKN) in Sabah deported 450 Filipinos who had entered the state illegally, back to Zamboanga, southern Philippines via ferry from Sandakan Port, Friday. MKN state director Rodzi Md Saad said in a statement today that the batch comprised 254 men, 112 women and 84 children aged between one and 66 years. He said 300 of them were initially held at the temporary detention centre in Papar while 150 were held at a similar centre in Sibuga, Sandakan. "Since January till today, 20,026 have been deported to their country of origin, while 549,997 have been deported or voluntarily returned home to their own country between 1990 and yesterday (Friday)." Rodzi described MKN's efforts as a reflection of the state government's seriousness in curbing the influx of illegal immigrants into the country. Meanwhile, he said 59 illegal immigrants comprising 41 Filipinos and 18 Indonesians were detained during an MKN integrated operation in Keningau on Thursday. -- BERNAMA