KOTA KINABALU – None of the recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah have been implemented, despite the final report being released in 2014.
Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau of Upko expressed his dissatisfaction in a Facebook post tonight, slamming the parliamentary reply provided by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Abdul Latiff Ahmad over government inaction.
“I uploaded the written parliamentary reply from the Prime Minister’s Department on my question at the Dewan Rakyat today about the recommendations in the RCI report on illegal immigrants in Sabah.
“I am not satisfied with the answer, which only states the formation of committees in 2014 and beyond. (When) talking about migrants in Sabah, there are four categories – illegal immigrants, Filipino refugees, stateless persons, and holders of dubious identity cards that were obtained via corruption or given to those who are not eligible.
“Therefore, in resolving the migrant issue in Sabah, as recommended in the RCI report, it must be focused on the four categories.”
In a written reply, Latiff said the permanent secretariat to address illegal immigrants in Sabah (JKPWAS) was established on December 3, 2014, which was the first recommendation on the RCI report.
He said the committee agreed to the implementation of the Resident Pass on May 12, 2015, in view of the suggestion to introduce a special identity card, as recommended by the RCI report.
From the Resident Pass, the name was then changed to the Permanent Resident Pass in 2016, and in 2019, was later changed to the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS).
He said PSS was meant to provide a single card to replace the IMM13 issued by the Immigration Department; the Kad Burung-Burung issued by the Sabah Chief Minister's Department; and the Census Card issued by the National Security Council.
PSS was cancelled on January 22 last year, following pushback from the then opposition parties Parti Bersatu Sabah, Sabah Star, and Umno after it was introduced by the Pakatan Harapan federal government.
Latiff said the issue on managing illegal immigrants in Sabah needs the cooperation and commitment of the federal and state governments, and the issuance of a standard and uniform document.
“It also needs discussion with foreign representatives from Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as political will, and high commitment from political leaders, community leaders, and Sabahans in finding a common ground to resolve the issue.”
On this end, Latif said the result of joint management and deliberation with the Sabah government will be discussed in the Committee of Foreign Migrant Management in Sabah (technical), and the outcome will be presented to the central JKPWAS for endorsement.
“After this, the central committee will propose the mechanism to solve the problem, before putting forward a consensus decision by the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 chaired by the prime minister.” – The Vibes, November 22, 2021
