The cost of deporting illegal immigrants has almost tripled in three years due to the growing numbers. The government has spent 16.4 million since 1999.

Three years ago, the cost was RM2.57 million. In 2000, it went up to 6.25 million. Last year, it touched RM 7.56 million.

The amount went up following the large number of illegal immigrants arrested and deported, said Deputy Home minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung.

Last year, 120,770 Indonesians were sent home, he told Zakaria Arshad. Also expelled last year were 4,590 Indians, 3,486 Bangladeshis, 3,436 Myanmars, 3,483 Thais and 2,022 from other countries.

He said our long coastline and hilly and mangrove swamp shores made it easy for foreigners to sneak in. Another factor could be because we border many countries, he said.

The deportation exercise has been successful and a very small number return within 21 to 48 hours, he said. Indonesian illegals are no longer dropped off in Dumai port in Sumatra because it is too close.

He also said 26 cases of sodomy were reported among prisoners since 1999. All involved males and the cases have been referred to police.

Ten cases were reported in 1999, four in 2000 and 12 last year, he said in a written reply to Abdillah Abdul Rahim on sexual harassment among convicts.

He told Melati Ali that drug addicts who had sent to rehabilitation centers more than twice will be detained five years in other centers when the Dangerous Drugs Act is amended, probably at the next session of parliament.