Always vigilant: An officer guarding the Jawi Immigration Depot and Quarters in Jawi, Penang, in this file photo.
PETALING JAYA: There is no issue of overcrowding despite there being 17,126 detainees in immigration depots nationwide, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said that as of Sept 30, the 25 depots, which include temporary facilities, have a total capacity of 20,750 detainees.
“These figures indicate that no overcrowding has occurred, as the number of detainees remains within the depots’ capacity,” Saifuddin Nasution said last week in a parliamentary written reply to Langkawi MP Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah, who had asked about overcrowding issues.
He added that the Immigration Department has implemented proactive measures to ensure that the number of detainees recorded does not exceed the depot capacity.
The breakdown of detainees comprises 12,231 men, 3,003 women and 2,092 children.
Saifuddin Nasution also addressed questions about non-governmental organisations (NGOs) inspecting the depots, saying that the Immigration Department allows the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) access on a case-by-case basis, particularly for the release of detainees holding UNHCR cards.
“The Immigration Department has also granted permission to visits by NGOs, including those by Medecins Sans Frontieres, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, the International Organisation for Migration, Suka Society, Yayasan Chow Kit, Yayasan Hasanah and Geutanyoe Malaysia,” he said.
From January to September, the Immigration Department has recorded a total of 264 NGO visits.
“These visits are based on written applications submitted to the Immigration director-general,” Saifuddin Nasution said.
Criminologist Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy said that while the current number of detainees represents an 82.5% utilisation rate and does not technically indicate overcrowding, the situation is complex.
“Whether this number is considered ‘high’ depends on the broader context such as detention conditions, reasons for detention and the impact on human rights,” he said.
Sundramoorthy added that the detainee population’s diversity, including men, women and children, may also highlight systemic issues such as irregular migration, human trafficking or inadequate asylum procedures.
He recommended streamlining immigration procedures to reduce the length of detention for individuals awaiting case processing.
He also suggested promoting alternative detention methods, such as reporting requirements or electronic monitoring.
Human rights activist Charles Hector expressed concern about the number of detainees and called for clarification on the duration of each individual’s stay at the depots.
He pointed out that some undocumented migrants are charged and convicted in court while others are not.
