PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration department has deported nearly 60,000 illegal immigrants between Jan 21 to Nov 20 this year.
Its Director-General Datuk Mustafa Ibrahim said those deported included convicted foreign criminals who have ended prison sentences here.
Of the 59,765 deported, Mustafa said Indonesians made up 24,614 illegals, while 6,834 were Bangladesh nationals.
He said another 6,483 of them consisted Philippine citizens while the remaining numbers were from other countries.
Mustafa stressed the department will take action against foreigners who had committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
"Those found committing offences under this act will be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for the judicial process to be meted out," he said in a statement yesterday.
He reminded those convicted would face imprisonment and caning.
Mustafa said a foreigner in the country would be considered an illegal immigrant when they did not possess a valid pass or permit to be in Malaysia.
He added those who have served prison sentences here would be deported and barred from re-entering the country after being blacklisted.