A TOTAL of 353 Filipino illegal immigrants were repatriated from Sandakan last night, according to the National Security Council.

Its director for Sabah, Rodzi Md Saad, said in a statement today that the 172 men, 89 women and 92 children, aged between six months and 66 years, were sent in a ferry to Zamboangna in the Philippines.

He said 697 illegal immigrants were repatriated to their home countries from Sabah this month, making the total number of those sent back 12,670 since last year.

Rodzi said the repatriation of illegal immigrants was part of the government’s commitment to address the illegal immigrant problem in the state.

He said the government took proactive action in detecting and arresting illegal immigrants through various integrated operations conducted by the council, the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), Immigration Department, police and the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency.

He said employers and the public should cooperate with enforcement agencies in addressing the illegal immigrant problem. – Bernama, January 31, 2018.