KOTA KINABALU – Sabah is not ready to scrap the pass requirements for Peninsular Malaysians to enter the state, said state minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
In response to Senator Datuk Razali Idris, the state finance minister said the special immigration requirements are to protect the Sabah people.
“This is part of the Malaysia Agreement. We are not ready to scrap this requirement and we have our reasons for this.
“When the special requirement was made, it was to protect the welfare of Sabahans.
“This is in relation to jobs and businesses. I think the people in West Malaysia should respect this,” he said when met here today.
When asked if this should be brought to the state assembly, Masidi said the only thing to be brought to the lower House would be plans to further restrict the requirements, not to relax them.
Nonetheless, he said, a MyKad is already sufficient for Peninsular Malaysians, but their visits will be limited to 90 days when they enter Sabah.
He added that Peninsular Malaysians can apply for work permits if they want to work in the state.
Razali had asked in Dewan Negara whether the government plans to scrap the pass requirements, seeing that people from Sabah and Sarawak do not need one when they enter the peninsula.
He added that this depends on whether the Sabah and Sarawak governments are willing to relax the requirements. – The Vibes, August 17, 2022
