by HIDAYATH HISHAM
THE government is spending an estimated RM89 million annually to provide food for over 16,000 undocumented migrants held in immigration detention centres across the country.
Immigration DG Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said as of April 30, a total of 16,412 undocumented migrants were placed in 18 permanent depots, two temporary facilities and six Baitul Mahabbah shelters nationwide.
“The government is currently spending around RM15 a day for the cost of food and drink for each detainee in the depots. The same rate is also spent on detainees in temporary depots and Baitul Mahabbah,” he told Utusan Malaysia recently.
Zakaria added that the figure could fluctuate depending on the number of migrants entering and exiting the facilities.
“If calculated over a one-year period, more than RM89 million must be borne to provide food and drink for them (undocumented migrants) in the depots.
“This does not include other expenses such as hospital treatment, medication, electricity and so on,” he said.
According to Zakaria, the detainees are mainly from Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Thailand.
The total detention capacity currently stands at 21,530 individuals, comprising 19,750 places in permanent depots, 380 in Baitul Mahabbah and 1,400 in temporary depots.
“The number of detainees in the depots is now 16,412 and that figure will change constantly according to undocumented migrants entering and being deported, so there is no issue of overcrowded depots.
“We are constantly carrying out the transfer of immigration detainees for repatriation to their home countries, with the average number of transfers per month being between 4,000 and 4,400 people,” he added.
Zakaria also mentioned that a key performance indicator (KPI) and standard operating procedure (SOP) have been set for all depots to ensure no detainee remains beyond three months without repatriation.
“Although we have to bear the cost of deportation, it helps reduce the overall spending on undocumented migrants. However, some are held for longer due to constraints such as documentation issues and so forth,” he said.
RELATED ARTICLES
Death toll rises to 16 in latest Greece migrant boat accident
London exhibition spotlights migrant business owners
UK trial begins for suspects in Vietnamese migrant truck tragedy
Alan Kurdi rescue ship picks up another 44 shipwrecked migrants
The post Govt spends RM89m yearly on meals for undocumented migrants in detention appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.
