DistantNews
Support us
Sabah Immigration denies claims of Filipino detainee death due to overcrowding
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Culture & Society

Sabah Immigration denies claims of Filipino detainee death due to overcrowding

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Sabah Immigration Department denies social media claims that a Filipino detainee died due to overcrowding in a detention center.
  • The department states that all Filipino detainees are in good condition while awaiting repatriation.
  • Repatriation processes have been affected by the suspension of sea routes from Sandakan to Zamboanga by Philippine authorities.

The Sabah Immigration Department has refuted viral social media allegations that a Filipino detainee died because of overcrowding in a detention center. Sabah Immigration Director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof described the claims as untrue, baseless, and misleading, adding that the images circulating do not correspond to any immigration detention center in the state.

The claims are untrue, baseless, and misleading, and the images circulating do not refer to any immigration detention center in this state.

— Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib YussofDenying social media allegations of detainee deaths due to overcrowding.

Saleha assured that all Filipino detainees in Sabah's immigration detention centers are in good health while awaiting their return to their home country. She stated that detainees receive proper treatment and protection in accordance with the law and standard operating procedures. Basic facilities, including scheduled meals that adhere to Ministry of Health-approved nutritional standards, are provided. Detainees also have access to medical treatment when needed.

Throughout the detention period, all depot residents are given proper treatment and protection in accordance with legal provisions and operational procedures.

— Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib YussofDescribing the conditions and care provided to detainees.

The repatriation process for Filipino detainees has faced challenges since February, when Philippine authorities suspended the primary sea route from Sandakan to Zamboanga. To ensure repatriation continues, Sabah Immigration is utilizing alternative routes, including flights from Kota Kinabalu to Manila and sea travel from Lahad Datu to Bongao. However, these alternative routes are contingent on the detainees' families agreeing to bear the travel costs.

The repatriation process for Filipino detainees via ship from Sandakan to Zamboanga, which was previously the main repatriation route, has been suspended by Philippine authorities since February.

— Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib YussofExplaining the reasons for delays in repatriation.

Saleha urged the public to disregard and refrain from spreading unverified and misleading information, images, or content circulating online.

However, the implementation of repatriation via alternative routes is subject to the agreement of the detainees' families to bear the travel costs.

— Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib YussofDetailing the conditions for using alternative repatriation routes.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog