Pressing need to tackle illegal immigrant issue in Sabah

By Olivia Miwil - May 28, 2020 @ 3:43pm

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders should support the quest to manage the illegal immigrant and undocumented persons problem in the state, said Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan.

He said raising the issue now was timely and it was done for the interest and security of Sabah.

The Keningau member of parliament was referring to the continuous attacks by Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) and Upko saying that he had politicised the issue and accused the state government for being "friendly" to immigrants.

Sabah leaders had also said the proposal to have a forum to seek permanent solutions was unnecessary as there had been many similar meetings held prior.

"They are wrong, it is more necessary now to get things done because nothing satisfactory was done by past leadership regimes -- Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan -- despite the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah.

"This is a new government under a new leadership. It has shown a new 'Putrajaya attitude' towards illegal immigrants such as the Rohingyas.

"The government has taken positive actions to address the issue, and we want this new attitude to be applied to undocumented foreigners," said Jeffrey.

Based on a study by the Institute for Development Studies, of the 3.9 million of Sabah's population, 1.2 million are foreigners.

Jeffrey, who is also federal Tourism and Culture deputy minister, said this would be the most opportune time to execute actions as he was now in the federal government.

"We want to have control of our borders and keep the country safe. If I don't do something about it, the rakyat will complain."