Malaysia, Philippines accelerate repatriation of undocumented migrants in Sabah

Malaysia and the Philippines have moved to accelerate the repatriation of over 5,000 undocumented migrants currently held in detention depots throughout Sabah, according to discussions held between officials from both countries. The bilateral talks focused on identifying procedural bottlenecks and implementing measures to speed up the return of Filipino nationals to their home country. The detainees have been held in various facilities across the state as authorities work through immigration and documentation processes. Officials acknowledged the humanitarian concerns surrounding prolonged detention and committed to exploring ways to reduce processing timeframes without compromising security or administrative requirements. The repatriation initiative forms part of broader efforts by both governments to address irregular migration in the region. No specific timeline for the accelerated repatriations was disclosed, though both nations pledged continued cooperation through existing bilateral channels to monitor progress and resolve outstanding cases.