THE government will open up transit quarantine centres for immigration detainees before they are sent to detention centres, said Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.

During a Facebook livestream video, Ismail Sabri said the government will create four quarantine centres: two each in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.

“The Sabah National Security Council has proposed to the government to build transit quarantine centres for illegal immigrants before they can be sent to detention centres,” he said.

“The government has agreed to build a centre in Menggatal Community Hall and Kinarut Town Community Hall, both in Kota Kinabalu, with another two at Sibuga Hall and Sri Gum Gum Hall in Sandakan.”

Ismail Sabri added that detainees who test positive will be sent to hospital for treatment, while those who do not will be quarantined at a transit centre for 14 days.

“If, after 14 days, they test negative, they will be transported to detention centres,” he explained. – October 10, 2020.