PETALING JAYA: The National Registration Department (NRD) has identified and deleted more than 28,500 fake Mykad applications.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the action followed investigations by an NRD special committee which was set up in 1999.

"Our focus has always been to deal with the issue of foreigners in Sabah who possessed various fake documents," he said in a joint statement with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Hasan today.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister jointly chaired a meeting on the Management Committee on the Migrant Problem with Musa Aman.

He said the authorities were continuing their efforts in tackling the problem of fake identity cards issued by various syndicates.

Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia was also increasing its efforts to deport illegal immigrants in Sabah.

"A total 17,700 illegal immigrants were deported from Sabah in 2014 and this figure increased to nearly 28,000 last year.

"For this year, a total of 9,500 illegal immigrants were deported from Sabah between January and May 12," he said.

He said the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) had also carried about 1,823 operations to nab illegal immigrants since last year, resulting in more than 11,686 people being detained.

Resource : The Sun Daily