Several Sabahans have been mistakenly deported to Indonesia and the Philippines during last year's concerted crackdown by the authorities to rid the state of undocumented foreigners, said a human rights commissioner.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) was told of instances where Sabahans were deported following their failure to produce identification papers of their nationality.

"They were sent back to Sabah after family members intervened and vouched for their nationality," Sabah-based Suhakam commissioner Simon Sipaun said when contacted yesterday.

"But since the matter was o­nly raised during our o­ngoing district-level dialogues in East Malaysia, no details are available as yet," he added.