The four centres, in Papar, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau were reported to be congested with 7,200 detainees being held. They are from various countries including Indonesia, Philippines and China.

Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said that among the reasons (for the congestion) is the problem of obtaining the ship required to send them back to their countries of origin.

“We want to send them back, that is sure. We have given the flexibility to MKN (the security council) on the type of ship they use as long as it is safe,’’ he told reporters here today.

Shafie, who is also Sabah security committee chairman, said the state government aspired to send back all the illegal immigrants but their safety was still stressed upon as the weather was currently uncertain.

‘’We have to take care of them and be considerate. We just cannot send them just like that as it involves human lives although they are not our people,’’ he said.

Yesterday, Sabah MKN director Sharifah Sitti Saleha Habib Yusof said the congestion at the TPS was because the ship which was to be used to send the illegals was undergoing maintenance.

The maintenance work was expected to be completed by Nov 10.