KUALA LUMPUR: About 1,000 foreign children, who were previously placed at the Immigration depots, have been moved to the temporary shelter, known as Baitul Mahabbah in Nilai, Negri Sembilan.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the children were relocated as the environment of the Immigration depots was deemed 'not conducive'.
"We have moved some of the children from the Immigration depots. About 1,000 of them, but the number changes.
"These children, aged 18 and below, were transferred out from the depots, as the environment there is not conducive," said Saifuddin during the winding-up session in Dewan Rakyat today.
He said other than Baitul Mahabbah di Nilai, another temporary shelter for foreign children will be launched this month.
"This month, another Baitul Mahabbah will be launched in Papar, Sabah.
"Next year, with an allocation of RM10 million, we will establish another two temporary shelters; one in Sarawak and another one in the Peninsula.
"Our target is four (temporary shelters). (And) we are doing it in stages, to move these children from the Immigration depots, while the repatriation process is managed by their respective embassy," he said.