Investigations are underway to determine how two Filipino children could have died from their illnesses during the deportation process despite an understanding between Malaysia and the Philippines that only those fit will be made to travel.

Sabah state Federal Task Force director Masri Barham said the investigations were launched after the agency received reports that Timah Basir, 13, and Nurhani Nurmi, 3, had died soon after being deported with their parents from the Menggatal immigration detention center.

The two children, who originate from Sumisip in Basilan, South Philippines, had boarded the M/V Danica Joy on Sept 29 with their parents and about 530 other undocumented migrants for the one-day journey to Zamboanga City.

Some time after the ferry had left Sabah, Timah died following severe malnutrition and hypoglycaemia.

Nurhani died at the Zamboanga City Medical Center on the evening of their arrival on Sept 30. She had suffered from chronic gastroenteritis, severe malnutrition and severe pneumonia.

Masri declined to comment when asked how the girls were allowed to board the ferry despite their medical condition and a standing bilateral-agreement for the former not to deport sick detainees.

"We can't say anything unless we've completed the investigations," said Masri when contacted.

No doctors

When contacted, Sabah Immigration Department director Baharon Talib, admitted that no doctors were present when the Filipino migrants boarded the ferry.

"We don't have any doctors checking them as they board. Every week we deport at least 100-200 persons. We only have a list of their names, and we check the documents issued by the Philippine embassy.

"Their welfare and medical condition is under the Task Force. We're only responsible for the transportation of detainees," Baharon said further, reiterating an earlier statement .

Suggesting that Timah and Nurhani "could have been well before they boarded the ferry", he did not offer any specific details of their conditions.

The Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur, meanwhile, declined to comment on Baharon's statement until they had received an official report from the Federal Task Force in Sabah or the state's immigration department.

Last year, two-year-old Rene Nasir died of severe dehydration during her deportation to the Philippines.