Malaysia spending $840,000 per month on illegal immigrants awaiting deportation

Khairul Dzaimee Daud (Bernama)

Putrajaya: Malaysia is holding 9,532 illegal immigrants at 14 immigration detention centers across the nation.

Based on the figure, the government spends about RM3.5 million ($840,000) per month to feed them, Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said.

“This does not include the cost of medication for sick detainees as well as the cost of utilities and maintenance of the detention premises,” he told Malaysian news agency BERNAMA.

“The duration they spend in the detention depot depended on the processing of documents as well as their jail sentence.”

After serving their jail sentences for the offences they have committed, the illegal immigrants will be sent back to the detention depots while waiting for their deportation, he added.

The deportation documentation process could take between three weeks and three or four months.

“All the processes involved the Immigration with the embassies and according to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), priority would be given to detained women and children,” he said, quoted by the agency.

From January until September 9 this year, 41,041 foreigners from various countries have been deported by the Immigration Department for various offences.

“All those who are waiting for their turn are being held at 14

The 14 detention centers where the other illegal immigrants are waiting for their turn to be deported can accommodate about 13,000 detainees at one time.