KOTA KINABALU – Despite being part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has called for a bi-partisan committee in the Sabah assembly to find a workable solution to the undocumented migrant issue in the state.
Its secretary-general Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said inputs from all parties and stakeholders are crucial to ensure action taken to deal with the problem would receive all-round support instead of having the matter questioned and politicised.
On Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s announcement yesterday that the ministry is mulling the approval of the state government’s proposal to issue migrant cards to all non-citizens in the state, Joniston said that Sabahans should wait for the state government to provide the details before making any assumptions.
“Comparing the preliminary proposal to issue the Migrant Workers’ Card (Kad Pekerja Warga Asing) by the present government to the Sabah Temporary Pass (Pas Sementara Sabah) introduced by the previous Warisan government would only complicate efforts to solve the problem.
“Let’s not make assumptions or jump the gun. Instead, wait for the state government to provide details of the preliminary discussion it had with Putrajaya.
“I believe our chief minister and the state leadership, as ‘Orang Asal Sabah,’ would not agree to a decision or action that would be detrimental to the interest of genuine Sabahans,” he said in a statement today.
Joniston was commenting on numerous reactions to Hamzah’s announcement, most of which criticised GRS for proposing an idea that is similar to Pas Sementara Sabah (Sabah Temporary Pass) during Warisan’s governance, which GRS had strongly rejected.
“I believe, as a responsible government, the GRS government would be transparent and would always consider the interest of the people and the state before making any decision to deal with the irregular migrant issue.
“As for PBS, it will never waver from its long-standing stance on the undocumented migrant situation,” he added.
Joniston had recently echoed a suggestion by PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili to set up an inter-party committee, as Sabah has ultimate power over immigration, especially now that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is part of the federal constitution following recent amendments to Article 1(2) and Article 160(2). – The Vibes, February 11, 2022
