KOTA KINABALU – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has refuted claims that the current batch of Barisan Nasional leaders were involved in handing out identity cards to migrants as alleged by Parti Bersatu Sabah.
Instead, the Pekan MP recalled that he had appointed former PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to sort out the undocumented migrants issue in Sabah when he led the nation.
“We were not involved in giving out ICs. Whatever happened in the past, we want it to be corrected and that is why we appointed a PBS leader to sort it out during my time,” he said during a press conference after delivering a keynote address at the Sabah BN convention here, today.
During his tenure as prime minister, Najib formed a Royal Commission of Inquiry on undocumented migrants in 2013 and after the inquiry wrapped its probe, he appointed Kitingan as chairman of the technical committee to look into resolving the problem in Sabah.
Midway through the PBS convention earlier this week, PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili alleged that a component of BN had given ICs to undocumented migrants in exchange for their votes.
Ongkili also said the actions of that party are a threat to national sovereignty.
Last night, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as Umno vice-president told Sabah BN leaders that perhaps election fever has gripped PBS, leading to its accusation against BN over the issue, even though the party was allied with the ruling coalition.
Meanwhile, Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has warned Ongkili not to play with fire, especially since both parties are part of the ruling government, adding that PBS would be wise to respect its coalition partner.
“PBS president, please don’t play with fire. As friends, we must respect each other. Umno and Barisan Nasional will never betray friends.
“But PBS has betrayed us many times. BN is a strong and sacred party. But they (PBS) accuse us of many things.
“But when BN is in power, they too want to be in power, although they only have one parliamentary seat, they also want to be minister.
“This cannot be allowed,” said Bung Moktar at the convention.
The Sabah deputy chief minister then warned that he would reveal the skeletons in PBS’ own closet and the damage they had allegedly done to Sabah when the general election is around the corner.
“Now he (Ongkili) has started beating his drum. Now we will beat his drum back. He is mistaken. He thinks he can he intimidate me? I am sorry,” he said. – The Vibes, July 7, 2022
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