Children on the famed Tamparuli suspension bridge. Sabahans live between fear and hope. It cannot be assumed that all Sabahans resent the presence of Pinoys in their midst.
(The Straits Times) - The locals call them IMM13 (United Nations-refugee status), or PTI (Pendatang Tanpa Izin, or illegal immigrants) to 1Malaysia (fully-fledged citizens). What's scary is all three acronyms can exist within a single family.
BETWEEN WEST AND EAST: Greater sensitivity about Sabah's affairs is required
SABAH and Sarawak span 198,081 sq km while the peninsula covers only 131,598 sq km, a fact that has prompted a Sabah politician to joke that Sabahans are the true mainlanders of Malaysia.
Although tongue-in-cheek in nature, such comments reflect how Sabahans generally feel about the political distance between the West and the East.
The recent court decision over the dispute between former Sabah chief ministers Tan Sri Harris Salleh and Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee -- over the choice of words describing the 1976 airplane crash that killed their predecessor Tun Mohd Fuad Stephens and six state ministers -- dredged up my own memories of the accident itself.
I was 10, watching my mother with her massive 1970s hairdo getting dressed in a beautiful batik kaftan and drop earrings, clearly excited about the dinner she and my father were attending that night to celebrate Berjaya's recent ascension to power.
Then my father called to tell her what had happened. I was confused when she broke down and remembered her explaining that, "many of our friends have died today".
I also remember that the elections during my childhood were filled with curfews, clashes and lots of power cuts (which annoyed me as it meant I couldn't watch Scooby Doo on TV.) My father, who took an early retirement, says little about those dark times, and perhaps still has reason to be reticent about it today.
He once joked about how he burned a significant hole in his bank book over a bet he took up with a pork seller, who predicted that Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) would take over 30 seats in the 1987 state elections.
Now that we are facing the 13th general election, there is disquiet again in the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) communities. My recent trip to Sabah ended with an interesting conversation with a young Muslim-Bajau teacher and village head, who told us about another village of people called the Bajau Ubian with a voter population of over 1,000 compared with his village of about 800 voters.
He quietly explained that these higher numbers were due to the presence of Filipinos with blue identity cards. This explains why KDM-based parties are so anxious for a Royal Commission of Inquiry over the presence of an overwhelming Filipino population.
The locals call them IMM13 (United Nations-refugee status), or PTI (Pendatang Tanpa Izin, or illegal immigrants) to 1Malaysia (fully-fledged citizens). What's scary is all three acronyms can exist within a single family.
It cannot be assumed that all Sabahans resent the presence of Pinoys in our midst. We have accepted that they are part of the land and that sharing the pie will require harder work than before.
What is politically important for the KDM people and the Chinese is having the sense that a defined solution has been developed to resolve this influx of uncertainty.
Thus, the sensitivity of federal politics when it gets involved in state affairs is a supremely valued requirement.
The Philippines has yet to drop its claims over Sabah. As I walked over the famed hanging bridge of Tamparuli, I sensed that no amount of inquiry will settle the angst that leaves a burning hole in the psyche of Sabahans, caused by having to live between fear and hope.
Are we living on borrowed time or on borrowed land? When will the landowner come knocking?
Although tongue-in-cheek in nature, such comments reflect how Sabahans generally feel about the political distance between the West and the East.
The recent court decision over the dispute between former Sabah chief ministers Tan Sri Harris Salleh and Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee -- over the choice of words describing the 1976 airplane crash that killed their predecessor Tun Mohd Fuad Stephens and six state ministers -- dredged up my own memories of the accident itself.
I was 10, watching my mother with her massive 1970s hairdo getting dressed in a beautiful batik kaftan and drop earrings, clearly excited about the dinner she and my father were attending that night to celebrate Berjaya's recent ascension to power.
Then my father called to tell her what had happened. I was confused when she broke down and remembered her explaining that, "many of our friends have died today".
I also remember that the elections during my childhood were filled with curfews, clashes and lots of power cuts (which annoyed me as it meant I couldn't watch Scooby Doo on TV.) My father, who took an early retirement, says little about those dark times, and perhaps still has reason to be reticent about it today.
He once joked about how he burned a significant hole in his bank book over a bet he took up with a pork seller, who predicted that Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) would take over 30 seats in the 1987 state elections.
Now that we are facing the 13th general election, there is disquiet again in the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) communities. My recent trip to Sabah ended with an interesting conversation with a young Muslim-Bajau teacher and village head, who told us about another village of people called the Bajau Ubian with a voter population of over 1,000 compared with his village of about 800 voters.
He quietly explained that these higher numbers were due to the presence of Filipinos with blue identity cards. This explains why KDM-based parties are so anxious for a Royal Commission of Inquiry over the presence of an overwhelming Filipino population.
The locals call them IMM13 (United Nations-refugee status), or PTI (Pendatang Tanpa Izin, or illegal immigrants) to 1Malaysia (fully-fledged citizens). What's scary is all three acronyms can exist within a single family.
It cannot be assumed that all Sabahans resent the presence of Pinoys in our midst. We have accepted that they are part of the land and that sharing the pie will require harder work than before.
What is politically important for the KDM people and the Chinese is having the sense that a defined solution has been developed to resolve this influx of uncertainty.
Thus, the sensitivity of federal politics when it gets involved in state affairs is a supremely valued requirement.
The Philippines has yet to drop its claims over Sabah. As I walked over the famed hanging bridge of Tamparuli, I sensed that no amount of inquiry will settle the angst that leaves a burning hole in the psyche of Sabahans, caused by having to live between fear and hope.
Are we living on borrowed time or on borrowed land? When will the landowner come knocking?
All Sabahans are concerned about the RCI for illegal immigrants in Sabah, it is hoped that the Federal Government will finalize the terms of reference of the RCI soon and have it implemented before the next General Election is held.
ReplyDeleteI hope RCI will be set up before election comes in order to ensure that the election will be held with fair.
DeleteIMM-13 holders are supposed to be refugees in our state only, they do not have the rights and status like a local and surely they are not allowed to vote as well. Technically they are not registered as citizen and do not possessed MyKads.
ReplyDeleteSad !!The real Sabanan have to live in fear ? what will the future will be ??
ReplyDeleteHope the government will take the time and effort to inform /provide the solution of all the questions.
What will happen if one day we are being outnumbered by "them"??? The government must act fast to solve the illegal immigrant issue in sabah before its too late.
ReplyDeleteRCI is needed.
ReplyDeleteso many PATI in Sabah, everywhere they have. this raised the concern among local people. so, we must take action to solve this matter, RCI is needed.
ReplyDeleteComing back to the matter at hand, It is still troubling that after so many years that the Philippines has yet to drop their claim on Sabah.
ReplyDeleteThe call to leave Malaysia to form a separate nation will only cause more complication for Sabahan.Among the grounds for this act is the 20 points issue.
ReplyDeleteIssues such as the 20 points that has been made redundant by the Federal government has no basis what so ever.
ReplyDeleteThe 20 points as it was already being incorporated within the National constitution which serves the best interest of all Malaysians, be that they are from the peninsular or from the Borneon States.
ReplyDeleteSince the Philippines is still staking their legitimacy claim on Sabah, I believe that it is prudent that Sabah should remain within Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteAs for the RCI, now we are waiting for the terms of reference to be concluded. Once this is done, I am sure the PM will announce it for the interest of all Sabahans.
ReplyDeletePerlaksanaan RCI adalah jawapan yang terbaik untuk menyelesaikan masalah mengenai perkara ini. Kita sedia maklum bahawa RCI telah pun dikemukakan kepada kerajaan pusat, kerajaan Negeri tidak ada bantahan mengenai perkara ini dan sedang menunggu kelulusan seterusnya oleh pihak kabinet. Datuk Najid telah menyatakan yang beliau akan meluluskan RCI ini secepat yang boleh.
ReplyDeletethe government has already proved their concern over this matter by the setting up of various special committees to tackle the issue.. but still the problem has not solved yet.. but I think all the government efforts will work effectively if all Sabahan can do their part and give full cooperation to solve the problem..
ReplyDeleteAmong the announcements made in the past were, the establishment of a Federal Cabinet Committee on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah in 2000, 2006, 2008 as well as the formation of a Laboratory on Immigrants Management in Sabah in 2010 followed by a Sabah BN Panel on illegal immigrants in 2011.. and now we demand for RCI that would involve a huge of public funds..
ReplyDelete