A large scale integrated operation to curb illegal immigrants was launched around Sandakan early yesterday morning.  

According to Sabah state secretary Sukarti Wakiman, the operation which was coordinated by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) was based on the Royal Commission of Inquiry's report on illegal immigrants in Sabah presented at the National Security Committee's meeting recently.   

"The state government views the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah seriously and this operation is the beginning of a number of drastic measures that we will be taking to curb this problem.   

"Our pure intention is to free Sabah from illegal immigrants as aspired by the local community in the state," he said in a statement in Sandakan yesterday.   

Sukarti said the same operation would also be carried out in other districts, especially those under the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZone).  

He also urged the local public to cooperate with authorities and reminded that stern action would be taken against those who abet or protect illegal immigrants.  

Sukarti said that during the operations which had begun since 4am today, some 315 people were detained, among which 130 were sent to the Sandakan temporary detention centre for further action to be taken by the Immigration Department, while another three were remanded for drug offences, and the rest were released after they were able to prove their identities.  

- Bernama