There are about 450,000 illegal immigrants from Indonesia detained and awaiting deportation in camps throughout Malaysia, Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin said today.

Of these, 300,000 are in the peninsula and 150,000 in Sabah and Sarawak. About 10,000 will be deported monthly via Indonesian navy ships at the Pasir Gudang (Johor) port, he added.

"The Home Ministry is aware that the influx of illegal immigrants will not only make it difficult for locals to find work but it may also contribute to the increase of various criminal cases and social problems," Zainal told reporters outside the Parliament lobby today.

Zainal said the ministry has amended and tightened laws and regulations in the Immigration Act which allows for higher penalty for errant employers and individuals habouring illegal immigrants.

Shorter stay

He said that the length of stay for immigrants seeking work in Malaysia has been cut from seven to three years, with the exception of domestic helpers who are allowed to work for six years.

The new regulations were enforced in June this year.

Zainal said the ministry was also working closely with the police, Immigration Department, National Registration Department and the army to prevent more illegal immigrants from entering the country.

"Errant employers and illegal immigrants will be blacklisted if they break the law. We do not want them to blame the government for doing so as we have given them ample warning," he said.

Currently, there are 789,120 legal immigrants working in various sectors such as manufacturing (291,448), agriculture (215,887), construction (64,328), domestic helpers (161,617), service (55,519) and others (321).