KOTA KINABALU: The data of 39, 276 people have been recorded under Sabah Integrated Management of Foreign Workers and Non-Residents (SWIMS).
The system digitally profiles foreign workers through the collection of personal information, facial recognition and biometrics.
Assistant Minister to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Nizam Titingan said 21,994 are workers and 17, 282 are their relatives.
"In the initial phase, this Digital Data Collection Outreach Activity Programme is focused on the agriculture and construction sectors because these two sectors have the highest number of foreign workers and also demand active labour in the 3D category, which stands for dirty, difficult, and dangerous.
"Since the inception of the Digital Data Collection Outreach Activity Programme on Sept 12, 2022, until now, the programme has been actively running, including during the month of Ramadan," Nizam said during the question-and-answer session at the state assembly sitting here.
Five plantation companies involved in the exercise were Kumpulan Sawit Kinabalu, Sabah Softwood Bhd, Benta Wawasan Sdn Bhd, FGV Plantations and Cepat Wawasan Group Bhd.
He was replying to questions by Datuk Ewon Benedick (Upko- Kadamaian) on the status of registering foreigners' digitally.
"As for undocumented foreign immigrants, the government will not compromise on security issues involving them in Sabah, where the Sabah State Immigration Department and related enforcement agencies will always carry out operations to apprehend and deport these individuals."