M'SIA SPENDS US$3 MLN TO REPATRIATE ILLEGALS LAST YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government spent RM11.7
million (US$3.2 million) last year to repatriate 60,800 illegal immigrants, said
Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung.

He said RM9.8 million (US$2.68 million) was spent in 2007 for repatriation.

"The government has to spend RM30 (US$8.2) a day on each detainee which
covers administrative and medical costs," Chor said when answering a question by
Senator Saripah Aminah Syed Mohemed in the Dewan Negara (Senate - upper house of
the Malaysian Parliament) here Wednesday.

He said based on statistics from the Immigration Department, 14,338
operations were conducted nationwide to nab illegals in 2007-2008.

"During the operations 131,979 illegals were caught and 125,080 were sent
back to their countries," he said.
-- BERNAMA