No Rohingya or refugees among group being deported, says immigration

 

Migrants at a detention centre in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan, in December. A group of 1,200 Myanmar nationals are to be deported next week. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: No Rohingya or UN refugee cardholders are among 1,200 Myanmar nationals to be repatriated on Feb 23, the immigration department said today.

It said that the Myanmar nationals involved had been detained for not having identification documents, or who had been detained for overstaying or misusing their visitor’s pass.

Immigration chief Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the deportation was “part of our usual programme to deport illegal immigrants held at detention centres”, and that Malaysia had sent home over 37,000 foreigners last year.

Malaysia’s plan to repatriate the group, which was reported after a military coup had taken place in Myanmar, had come under fire from the UN refugee agency, which said Malaysian authorities had yet to inform it of the deportation.

The agency’s spokesman said it was concerned that a “number” of those in detention may require international protection, including vulnerable women and children. - FMT