KOTA KINABALU – A crucial town hall meeting to resolve Sabah’s undocumented migrant crisis will be held on June 2, involving all state political leaders, including opposition and non-government organisation heads.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan told reporters today that the preliminary report, which includes solutions to the long-standing migrant problems in Sabah, will be scrutinised by all parties involved.
“We have completed all discussions within the committee except for this one, which is the last group. We will have a town hall meeting, and after that, we will decide together.
“At this point, everything is going according to progress, and the preliminary report has been drafted and presented to the state cabinet after the town hall meeting,” he said, adding that the committee requires a unanimous consensus on the issue.
The Tambunan assemblyman explained that it is best to get everyone involved or there will be unhappy voices later.
He expressed hope the opposition leaders in Sabah would extend their cooperation to the committee, saying that they are also aware of the problem.
“Whether they are interested in solving the migrant problem in Sabah is another question. We will give them two choices and take a vote,” he said.
Jeffrey said there was nothing wrong with the federal government’s plan to introduce the temporary card plan, but they must do it right.
“You know how it is in Sabah. Once they hear about issuing another card. They will think the government wants to give them identification cards.
“So, we must be more open-minded and a win-win solution for all parties in Sabah.”
He voiced his confidence that the various parties will agree with the committee’s two proposed solutions but stopped short of revealing what they are.
On February 16, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor formed the Special Committee on Undocumented Foreign Workers and Nationals, appointing Jeffrey as chair. – The Vibes, May 24, 2022
