MYANMAR illegals held at Immigration depots will be sent back home in a detainee exchange programme.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the programme would also see Malaysians detained in Myanmar returning to the country.
?There are currently 1,000-odd Myanmar nationals detained in the depots. But the number to be sent back has yet to be confirmed.
?Officials from both countries will be meeting next week to start working on the details of the exchange,? he told reporters after meeting Myanmar deputy foreign minister U Maung Myint in Parliament.
Hishammuddin also said that he could not confirm the number of Malaysians to be sent back from Myanmar.
He said the joint initiative would reduce crowding in the depots and showed the close relationship between both countries.
?If we can carry out such an exchange with Myanmar, I don?t see why we can?t do the same with other countries,? Hishammuddin said.
He added that Myanmar nationals were the third highest number of immigrants registered under the ministry?s 6P programme, with a total of 257,000 in Malaysia.
A total of 2.3 million foreigners registered under the programme, of which 1.3 million were illegals.
Hishammuddin said the detainee exchange programme was important in principle as it could help combat crime across borders, among other benefits.
?We have also set up a joint working committee with Myanmar to discuss issues of concern periodically,? he said, adding that the committee would consist of relevant agencies.
On the refugee swap deal with Australia, Hishammuddin said the ministry would be meeting with Australian authorities to discuss the matter next month.
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