Deputy Home Minister Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said about 300,000 illegal immigrants cannot be repatriated due to immigration problems in their countries of origin.

Although the government knew their countries of origin, the countries required identification documents to prove citizenship, he told reporters after handing over emergency aid for Santubong parliamentary constituency in Kuching today.

He said the government had been holding discussions with foreign embassies and government representatives to find a more comprehensive method to repatriate the illegal immigrants.

"We want the illegal immigrants to be repatriated as soon as possible as they are a burden to us. Everyday we have to provide food and healthcare for these people," said Wan Junaidi who is also member of parliament for Santubong.

He hopes the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah can form the basis for more effective methods to solve the problem of illegal immigrants who cannot be repatriated.

The government was waiting for the report tabled in Parliament before they could implement an appropriate mechanism to solve the problem of illegal immigrants in this country.

- Bernama