![](http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/2012/august2012/12/anwar-sabah.jpg)
The opposition leader(picture) said the entire RCI was flawed as its terms were lacking details and do not include identifying those responsible or recommending punishment on them.
“These are major criminal acts, particularly when it involves corruption and cheating and falsifying documents... these are serious flaws, but of course, these are not part of the RCI’s terms of reference,” he told reporters after a function announcing the crossover of another senior Barisan Nasional (BN) here.
The newly-established RCI on Sabah’s illegal immigrants has been tasked to investigate if foreigners in the state have been unlawfully awarded Malaysian ICs or citizenships and included in the electoral roll.
But the panel’s terms, announced in Kota Kinabalu yesterday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, do not include a probe to identify those involved in handing out citizenships unlawfully.
The opposition have often laid blame on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the state’s extraordinary spike in migrant population, claiming he had spearheaded “Project IC” or “Projek M”.
The “Projek IC” initiative was purportedly kicked off in the early 1980s during Dr Mahathir’s tenure to give out Malaysian ICs to illegal immigrants in Sabah, in order to help the ruling BN stay in power.
“Yes, it seems Dr Mahathir is clearly nervous about the RCI,” Anwar said here.
“But they (BN) must have given their assurance that they will not pick at who is at fault, who are the people taking money or falsifying documents and why... so that means the entire RCI is just flawed,” he said.
Anwar added that Sabah voters were likely to have little regard for the RCI, noting the government’s years of refusal to set up the panel.
He pointed out that the decades-old problem could not be so easily resolved within the six months deadline given to the panel to make its recommendations to the government.
The PKR de facto leader suggested that the RCI was merely a political ploy, referring to its formation so close to the coming polls, and added that like the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms, the panel was unlikely to solve Sabah’s problem with illegal immigrants.
“This is just like a gimmick. They (the government) are not serious. I believe most Sabahans would not have any regard for this RCI because they have learned from the past on how their request to form the panel was not heeded,” he said.
Najib’s announcement on the RCI’s reference terms yesterday comes just two weeks after the twin exits of two senior Sabah BN lawmakers – Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing and Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin.
Both men cited their dissatisfaction with the government’s delay on the RCI, which the Cabinet had already agreed to form on February 8 this year.
In Sabah, the problem of illegal immigrants has been dominating every election since 1970 as the local natives believe that foreigners are to blame for the state’s economic, social and security problems.
Some 27 per cent of Sabah’s 3.12 million population are said to be foreigners.
The government have just announced the appointment of members in the RCI panel which includes former Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice chancellor Datuk Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon , former Sabah Attorney General Tan Sri Herman Luping , former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin and former State Secretary Datuk KY Mustafa. The panel will also be lead by Former High Court judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim.
ReplyDeleteThey will be investigating the illegal immigrants issue in Sabah within 6 months allocated by the government after it was officially implemented. Now we should just wait for the government's announcement.
But I dont understand why Sabah bersih wants Herman to be expelled.
DeleteBersih did suggest include identifying those responsible or recommending punishment on them in the RCI's Terms of Reference, perhaps the government will consider this suggestion before the implementation of the RCI. Just wait for it.
ReplyDeleteAnwar hanya tahu politikkan isu PATI dan RCI. tiada pula idea untuk jalan penyelesaian.
ReplyDeleteAnwar mmg pandai putar belit. tapi rakyat dan tau cara Anwar ni. drama King.
DeleteAnwar is only a champion in words but not delivering promises.
DeleteNampaknya Anwar takut RCI ini dilaksanakan. Adakah ada kaitan dengan Anwar?
ReplyDeleteAnwar tidak akan takut sebab beliau telah mempunyai pengalaman bagaimana mahu mengelak dari disiasat.. beliau hanya perlu menafikan tuduhan itu dan dalam masa yang sama mengarahkan penyokong2 beliau untuk melakukan demonstrasi bagi mempertahankan beliau..
DeleteI think both he and Mahathir should be responsible about the Project IC. Mahathir is being sarcastic.
DeleteSemasa Anwar menjad TPM perkara ini berlaku. Sehinggalah sekarang.
ReplyDeleteyang pegang mikrofon tu pun sama juga tu.. mustahil dia tidak terlibat masa dia pegang jawatan TPM dan menteri kewangan..
ReplyDeleteHe is possible to be involved in the thing. He should just shut up.
Deletesekrang RCI sudah diumumkan.. tidak lama lagi akan dilaksanakan.. tapi pemimpin2 pembangkang makin meroyan pula.. semua dia pertikaikan.. macam mereka saja yang paling betul..
ReplyDeletewalau apapun kenyataan pemimpin2 pembangkang, saya tetap menyokong penuh langkah kerajaan menubuhkan RCI.. rakyat sabah juga tidak perlu terpengaruh dengan kata2 pembangkang yang sekarang ini sibuk meremehkan usaha2 kerajaan semata2 mahu mengalihkan sokongan rakyat kepada mereka..
ReplyDeletejgn layan pembangkang tu.. tiada pun baik pada mata mereka.
DeleteDSAI..can you explain why you rejected RCI on IC Project in 1994??
ReplyDelete