SANDAKAN: The State Immigration Department repatriated 750 Filipinos to the Philippines in its latest annual deportation exercise, with the group departing through Sandakan Port aboard the MV Antonia 1 on Thursday.
The operation involved detainees from the Sandakan and Papar Immigration Detention Depots, who were transported by sea to Zamboanga City, Philippines.
The group comprised 378 men, 175 women, 98 boys and 99 girls, aged between three days and 71 years. Children were accompanied by their parents or designated guardians during the journey.
Separately, on Nov 11, the Papar Immigration Detention Depot repatriated a male Singaporean by air. He travelled from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Singapore’s Changi Airport on a Scoot Airlines flight.
As of Nov 12, a total of 9,224 undocumented migrants of various nationalities had been repatriated from Sabah in 2026.
Filipinos accounted for the largest group at 6,915, followed by 1,959 Indonesians, 143 Pakistanis, 142 Chinese nationals, 29 Vietnamese and 36 others, including Singaporeans.
All those repatriated had completed their sentences in accordance with Malaysian law and possessed valid travel documents, including travel documents and Certificates of Identity (SPLP), required for their return.
The State Immigration Department also called on the Philippine Embassy to expedite the issuance of travel documents to facilitate the timely repatriation of Filipino detainees.
It said closer cooperation would help ensure smoother detention management and ease overcrowding at immigration detention depots across Sabah. – James Leong
Filipino deportees waiting to board MV Antonia 1 at the Sandakan Port during the repatriation on Thursday.
