Long after Filipino refugees were settled across 32 villages in Sabah during the Mindanao conflict of the 1970s, more than 16.7 percent of them now hold blue identity cards, the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah heard today.
Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan Special Task Force director Suhaimi Mohd Salleh, who was recalled to testify at today's RCI, said of the estimated 69,317 refugees in the 32 villages, as of last year 11,597 of them held blue identity cards.
"A total of 15,057 also hold birth certificates," Suhaimi told the commission, adding that they largely comprise offspring of the refugees and are on their path to citizenship.
Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan Special Task Force director Suhaimi Mohd Salleh, who was recalled to testify at today's RCI, said of the estimated 69,317 refugees in the 32 villages, as of last year 11,597 of them held blue identity cards.
"A total of 15,057 also hold birth certificates," Suhaimi told the commission, adding that they largely comprise offspring of the refugees and are on their path to citizenship.
'Tasked to oversee refugees'
Another 3,698 hold permanent resident status, 481 use entry permits, 10,982 use IMM13 (refugee status documents) and 281 use temporary identity cards," he said.
The remaining, Suhaimi said, used older forms of identification that are recognised by certain government agencies but not by the NRD or the Immigration Department, or do not have documentation altogether.
The Special Federal Task Force is tasked to oversee the refugees in the villages and also handles issues concerning immigrants in Sabah.
Suhaimi was recalled today to explain in more detail the statistics that he provided during the first session of the RCI, which began on Jan 14 and ended on Jan 18.
He said that as of 1990 until Jan 21 this year, a total of 446,063 illegal immigrants had been deported or had agreed to voluntary repatriation.
Another 3,698 hold permanent resident status, 481 use entry permits, 10,982 use IMM13 (refugee status documents) and 281 use temporary identity cards," he said.
The remaining, Suhaimi said, used older forms of identification that are recognised by certain government agencies but not by the NRD or the Immigration Department, or do not have documentation altogether.
The Special Federal Task Force is tasked to oversee the refugees in the villages and also handles issues concerning immigrants in Sabah.
Suhaimi was recalled today to explain in more detail the statistics that he provided during the first session of the RCI, which began on Jan 14 and ended on Jan 18.
He said that as of 1990 until Jan 21 this year, a total of 446,063 illegal immigrants had been deported or had agreed to voluntary repatriation.
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