KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 15,845 illegal immigrants (PATI) are detained in immigration depots nationwide as of Jan 29, 2023.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said of the total, 11,983 of them are male and 2,683 others female.
"The detained PATI also comprises 1,179 children, of which 656 are boys and the remaining 523 girls.
"There are 518 children who were detained with their parent, while 661 others had no guardians or parents around when detained," he said in a parliamentary written reply to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera).
Syerleena requested for the Home Ministry to break down the numbers of PATI held in immigration detention centres by age, gender, country of origin, and duration of detention.
Saifuddin said the highest number of inmates recorded were from the Philippines.
"Of the total, 5,138 or 32.4 per cent are from the Philippines, followed by Myanmar including Rohingya ethnics with 4,424 or 32.4 per cent and Indonesia with 4,097 people or 25.9 per cent."