Citizenships being dangled in Batu Sapi, warns PAS

Harakahdaily

BATU SAPI, Nov 1: There have been allegations that Barisan Nasional is offering citizenships and birth certificates as part of its promises to voters who support its candidate in the Batu Sapi by-election this Thursday. A section of the crowd who turned up at a hotel to listen to top PR leaders The Sabah PAS Youth wing said that a ceremony to "award citizenship and transfer of birth certificate" was planned for November 3 at the Karamunting MPS Flat, Sandakan, to be officialised by deputy Home minister Lee Chee Leong. “Granting the citizenship is a right and sovereignty of the state and it cannot be used as a political tool, especially to gain votes. "Why is citizenship awarded only now during the by-election?" asked Salman, the state PAS information chief. According to Salman, the initiative to solve the problem of citizenship and identity cards for Sabahan should have been made long ago by the BN-led government. “There are so many issues involving the issuance identity cards which have yet to be solved due to BN’s failure in properly managing and administrating the citizenship issue," he said, adding that abuses in the granting of citizenship had caused ill-feeling among locals. Stressing that such issues would not be solved for as long as the BN government continued to use the country's sovereignty as a political tool, Salman urged Batu Sapi voters to choose wisely. "Whatever gifts given to the people of Batu Sapi by the BN should not be declined, but let the vote be cast for Pakatan Rakyat,” he added. Meanwhile, PKR has stepped up its campaign here, with party chief Anwar Ibrahim, accompanied by DAP's Lim Kit Siang, PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar and Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim wooing the crowd at several ceramahs. Yesterday, thousands of people thronged a hotel to hear speeches by the top PR leaders, urging support for PKR candidate Ansari Abdullah. "UMNO is now desperate because the people of Batu Sapi have rised against them. They no longer want to be sweet talked after being part of Malaysia for over 40 years," said Anwar, adding that Ansari should be taking the oath as Batu Sapi's new member of parliament next week.