FEDERAL GOVT URGED TO RESOLVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PROBLEMS IN SABAH

KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- The Federal government must act now
to resolve the problem of illegal immigration rather than later if the ruling
Barisan Nasional (BN) government were to appease the growing frustration and
public discontent in East Malaysia state of Sabah.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) secretary-general Henrynus Amin said the inclusion of
illegal immigration in the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) was necessary to
compel enforcement agencies to produce results. PBS or United Sabah Party is a
multi-racial political party and is currently a component party of BN.

A Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Idris Jala had recently said that
the issue of illegal immigration was not one of the country’s six top priorities
and therefore not included in the NKRA.

Henrynus said PBS feared the non-inclusion of the illegal immigrant issue in the
NKRA would reinforce public opinion that the federal government was not
interested or lacked the political will to act.

In this respect, he said PBS commended Chief Minister Musa Aman for his
foresight to have the special laboratory held in Sabah to signify the importance
of the national security issues.

"But the result of the laboratory must be disclosed now and acted upon.
Otherwise, it may be seen as mere window dressing, or at best, an academic
exercise," he said in a statement, here Wednesday.

The special laboratory on foreign workers and illegal immigration involved
participants from the relevant departments and agencies including the police,
immigration, Attorney-General's Chambers, Election Commission, local
authorities, district offices and non-governmental organisation (NGOs).

PBS reiterated its support for the special laboratory as part of the party’s
initiative to bring the issue of illegal immigration to the national agenda, he
said.

Henrynus said PBS firmly believed the presence of a huge transient
population in Sabah was a national problem which required national solutions and
commitment.

He said opposition propaganda were exploiting public fears of transient
population by twisting and spinning the facts and the good intention of the
government.

He said by supporting the special laboratory, PBS was being unfairly accused of
being responsible for the proposal to hire illegal immigrants.

For the record, he said, the PBS President, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, was
interviewed by the special lab committee where he clearly stated PBS policy of
zero tolerance on illegal immigration.

He said Pairin did not mince his words when repeating his call for the issue of
illegal immigrants to be resolved by 2012 and urged the authorities to include
the issue in the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) in order to achieve results.

Henrynus said personal statements in the press perceived to be contrary to PBS
official stand would not nullify PBS resolve to find ways and means to end the
perennial problem of illegal immigration.
-- BERNAMA




Delete & Prev | Delete & Next