A new RM20 million detention depot in Johor will house 2,200 detainees by year-end, alleviating severe overcrowding at the state’s sole facility for foreign nationals.

JOHOR BAHRU: The new Pekan Nanas Immigration Detention Depot building is scheduled for completion this year and will accommodate up to 2,200 detainees, resolving severe overcrowding at the existing facility.

Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the new building, currently under construction within the same premises, is a critical addition following a surge in arrests from intensified enforcement operations.

He explained that the state’s sole detention depot for foreign nationals has frequently exceeded its ideal capacity of 1,250 detainees, with numbers often spiking to nearly 2,000.

“The ideal capacity for our Pekan Nanas depot is around 1,250 to ensure detainees are held in manageable conditions while awaiting repatriation,” Mohd Rusdi said in an exclusive interview.

He added that the frequent breach of the capacity limit creates significant physical and mental pressure on daily management and personnel.

Despite the high volume, Mohd Rusdi stressed that every arrest must strictly adhere to legal protocols and human rights standards covering detention, documentation, court proceedings, and deportation.

Construction on the project, which began in 2024, is being implemented in two phases, with the first involving administrative offices, detention blocks, and essential facilities like a dining hall.

The second phase focuses on staff quarters, with the entire RM20 million project expected to be fully operational by the end of this year.

 The Sun Malaysia