Immigration detention depots maintain sufficient capacity with daily deportations creating space for new detainees, while authorities prepare for refugee registration.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department confirmed its detention depots maintain sufficient capacity to accommodate undocumented migrants detained in nationwide operations.
Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban stated the department manages 21 depots with a total capacity exceeding 21,000 people, with approximately 500 spaces currently available.
“Every day there are deportations, about 200 to 300 people,” he said during a press conference at the JIM Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Deepavali Celebration ceremony.
“There are also arrests every day, so this figure will fluctuate, but we ensure the depots always have capacity.”
Myanmar nationals constitute the largest group of detainees at 8,884 individuals, including 5,102 ethnic Rohingya, followed by Filipinos (4,727) and Indonesians (3,838).
The department is preparing isolation and logistics centers ahead of implementing the Refugee Registration Document for refugees, expected to begin as early as January.
Zakaria noted concerns about the accuracy of current refugee data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
“Our observation suggests the number of refugees is likely more than what has been reported to us,” he said.
“The government has decided to conduct a re-registration of all refugees, including the Rohingya, and we already have the subsequent direction after this registration,” he added, noting that announcements regarding the way forward would come from the Minister of Home Affairs or Prime Minister.
Regarding departmental discipline, Zakaria revealed that 60 immigration officers have been dismissed for various offences including corruption since 2022, while 301 others faced action including departmental transfers and suspensions for disciplinary cases.
Commenting on the recent boat capsize incident involving ethnic Rohingya in Kedah, he said the department is assisting with documentation and verification of victims’ nationalities.
“Some of the individuals found alive did not possess any documents, necessitating JIM to obtain confirmation of their country of origin before further action can be taken,” he explained.
