M`SIA: OPERATIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO CONTINUE

TAWAU (Malaysia), May 30 (Bernama) -- The federal government, through its
agencies, will conduct continuous operations to rid Sabah of illegal immigrants,
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He said the operation would be carried out on the order by Prime Minister
Mohd Najib Tun Razak, following the state government's request.

"We want the operation to be conducted continuously and not seasonally or
only when the issue becomes big, he told reporters after visiting the Tawau
detention centre near here Saturday.

Nazri said he was satisfied with the progress of the operations against
illegal immigrants conducted in the state so far, adding that those detained
were placed at detention centres here, at Kinarut, Menggatal, Sandakan and Kota
Belud, all of which could accommodate up to 13,500 people.

On Friday, Sabah State Secretary Sukarti Wakiman said 389,129 illegal
immigrants had been arrested since 1990 and that 315,752 of them had been
deported to their respective countries of origin.

On his visit to the Sipadan Island, Nazri said basic structures for use by
the police, army and officers from the Sabah Parks had been provided.

However, he said the government would stick to its policy not to allow
tourists to stay overnight on the island and also limit the number of tourists
on the island.

--BERNAMA