All the Temporary Detention Centres (PTS) in Sabah are currently crowded with over 7,200 illegal immigrants from various countries including Indonesia, the Philippines and China.

Sabah National Security Council (MKN) director Sharifah Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the issue stemmed from the deportation services management for illegal Filipino migrants.

"The company provided with a tender service to manage the deportation is currently facing a vessel issue, as the ship from the Philippines is currently undergoing a drying dock (a process of ensuring ship and cruise safety) for two months.

"However, the service will be completed soon and the vessel will resume operations and sail towards Sabah by Nov 10," she said after launching the Hepatitis B and Influenza vaccination programme involving 103 MKN officers and personnel in Tawau yesterday.

Currently, there are four PTS in Sabah, namely in Papar, Kota Kinabalu, Sibuga and Tawau.

Sharifah Sitti Saleha also praised the good cooperation by the Indonesian consulate in Sabah to repatriate its citizens back to Indonesia through the Tawau Port to Nunukan, Indonesia in an efficient and timely manner.

She added that the MKN had sent 7,844 illegal immigrants back to their home countries as of August this year.

- Bernama