KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah government today said it has not authorised any group to issue “foreigner cards” or collect data from either foreign workers or stateless foreigners.
Deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said the state government does not recognise foreigner cards purportedly issued by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and stressed that holders of the alleged card will not be afforded any benefits, acceptance or recognition by the state government.
“Foreign workers and stateless foreigners must not be misled by the actions of any NGOs purporting to collect data or issuing foreigner cards. Employers also must not register their foreign workers with any NGOs,” he said in a statement today.
Jeffrey did not state which NGO was issuing the card.
Yesterday, it was reported by local newspaper The Daily Express that the Malaysian Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) has been issuing Humanitarian Data Cards at a cost of RM450 each to foreigners that may need the NGO’s legal or other advice pertaining to their rights.
MHO secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim denied that it was issuing forged identity documents to stateless people in Sabah, according to the report.
Jeffrey said the state special cabinet committee on foreign workers and undocumented people, which he chairs, has already met with various government agencies and industry players and are in the midst of engaging other stakeholders to finalise their preliminary report to be tabled to the state cabinet in mid-May.
He said the special committee will present viable solutions to the state’s long-standing issue of undocumented migrants, including deporting them to their home countries.
The special committee will also work with the federal Foreign Ministry to set up a coordination committee on foreigners and collaborate with foreign governments to issue travel and identification documents to facilitate the deportation of undocumented migrants from Sabah, Jeffrey said.
“The special committee is aware of the sentiments and wishes of Sabahans on illegals including the objections to the Pas Sementara Sabah proposed by the previous Warisan Plus government to favour illegals,” he said. – The Vibes, April 22, 2022
