However, the government should look into discrimination elements and take action against those who were involved in the exploitation.
“Those who come to work are exposed to exploitation as many would take advantage of them. “Their jobs are terrible, unsafe and with low pay. (With the alternative of low-pay workforce, employers are) making excuses to lower the salary for citizens. “In other words, local people are also being taken advantage of by the situation,” she said during a forum on “Flooding of illegal immigrants in Sabah” at a hotel here last night. Other panels were United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation honorary president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, former Sabah state Secretary Tan Sri Simon Sipaun and DAP veteran politician Lim Kit Siang. Simon said that Sabah's population had grown from about 698,000 in the 1970s to 3.5 million in 2004. On the contrary, for the same timeframe, Sarawak only grew from 1 million to 2 million 24 years ago. “I would say that based on population growth rate in Sarawak, Sabah had a surplus of 1 million population. “These illegals are blamed for many social problems from burglary, theft and other crime. “On the other hand, although they contribute to sustain the state economy, many are being employed in agriculture, plantation, construction, domestic help among others. If they disappear all of a sudden Sabah's economy will be in standstill,” he said. The former Institute Development Studies chairman added that it is a fact that most illegals would stay in Sabah for the rest of their lives. He said to ensure those immigrants become better human beings, they should not be deprived of education facilities. “Everyone has a right to a country, it is a human right. I have sympathy for these people categorised as stateless due to circumstances beyond their control. “They are being deprived from human rights and in my view, human rights have no borders. “The opportunity for them to develop and improve their skills, the chances for them to become more useful for the society will be a lot higher than them turning into criminals when they turn adulthood.” Ends.
“Those who come to work are exposed to exploitation as many would take advantage of them. “Their jobs are terrible, unsafe and with low pay. (With the alternative of low-pay workforce, employers are) making excuses to lower the salary for citizens. “In other words, local people are also being taken advantage of by the situation,” she said during a forum on “Flooding of illegal immigrants in Sabah” at a hotel here last night. Other panels were United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation honorary president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok and president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, former Sabah state Secretary Tan Sri Simon Sipaun and DAP veteran politician Lim Kit Siang. Simon said that Sabah's population had grown from about 698,000 in the 1970s to 3.5 million in 2004. On the contrary, for the same timeframe, Sarawak only grew from 1 million to 2 million 24 years ago. “I would say that based on population growth rate in Sarawak, Sabah had a surplus of 1 million population. “These illegals are blamed for many social problems from burglary, theft and other crime. “On the other hand, although they contribute to sustain the state economy, many are being employed in agriculture, plantation, construction, domestic help among others. If they disappear all of a sudden Sabah's economy will be in standstill,” he said. The former Institute Development Studies chairman added that it is a fact that most illegals would stay in Sabah for the rest of their lives. He said to ensure those immigrants become better human beings, they should not be deprived of education facilities. “Everyone has a right to a country, it is a human right. I have sympathy for these people categorised as stateless due to circumstances beyond their control. “They are being deprived from human rights and in my view, human rights have no borders. “The opportunity for them to develop and improve their skills, the chances for them to become more useful for the society will be a lot higher than them turning into criminals when they turn adulthood.” Ends.
Comments
Post a Comment