Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak believe that it is still premature to draw conclusions from the royal commission of inquiry into the Sabah immigrants issue, which is still at its initial stages.
"We cannot gauge from the testimony of some witnesses. There are 167 more witnesses that will be called," Najib told a press conference after chairing the BN supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
He urged all parties not to speculate and to "allow the process to take place".
"We cannot gauge from the testimony of some witnesses. There are 167 more witnesses that will be called," Najib told a press conference after chairing the BN supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
He urged all parties not to speculate and to "allow the process to take place".
The RCI on Immigrants in Sabah began its public inquiry on Monday and will end its first five-day hearings today. It will resume its public hearings early next month with more witnesses to be called to testify.
Asked about former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that it was okay to give citizenship to foreigners if done properly within the law, Najib agreed with his former party president.
"If we give citizenship according to the law, there is nothing wrong... as long as it is in accordance with the law. Other governments do it, too... it is not an issue."
He repeated Mahathir's claim that the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman also give citizenship to one million Chinese.
Asked if the citizenship granted to the immigrants in Sabah had been in accordance with the law, Najib said that is what the RCI is for.
"Let the commission find out," said Najib. He cautioned against jumping the gun when evaluating the findings.
"As long as you don't speak of it in the wrong way."
"If we give citizenship according to the law, there is nothing wrong... as long as it is in accordance with the law. Other governments do it, too... it is not an issue."
He repeated Mahathir's claim that the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman also give citizenship to one million Chinese.
Asked if the citizenship granted to the immigrants in Sabah had been in accordance with the law, Najib said that is what the RCI is for.
"Let the commission find out," said Najib. He cautioned against jumping the gun when evaluating the findings.
"As long as you don't speak of it in the wrong way."
Preliminary findings show urgency
Met by reporters on his way to the BN supreme council earlier,United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko)president Bernard Dompok echoed the same sentiments.
"It is still too early to say about something that has not quite finished."
However, Dompok (right) said that the preliminary findings of the RCI proved the urgency of the problem.
"Investigation by the commissioners show that indeed there is a need for the RCI."
Asked whether he was surprised with the peccadilloes unearthed, Dompok said that he had known that those issues to be true long ago.
"I am not shocked by the findings, as there are things that I have already brought before BN, and the cabinet... those are proven correct."
However he stopped short of commenting of any ill-will on the part of Sabahans, if any, existed over the illegal immigrant issue.
"I shall comment further after the RCI is completed," the BN leader from Sabah added.
Met by reporters on his way to the BN supreme council earlier,United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko)president Bernard Dompok echoed the same sentiments.
"It is still too early to say about something that has not quite finished."
However, Dompok (right) said that the preliminary findings of the RCI proved the urgency of the problem."Investigation by the commissioners show that indeed there is a need for the RCI."
Asked whether he was surprised with the peccadilloes unearthed, Dompok said that he had known that those issues to be true long ago.
"I am not shocked by the findings, as there are things that I have already brought before BN, and the cabinet... those are proven correct."
However he stopped short of commenting of any ill-will on the part of Sabahans, if any, existed over the illegal immigrant issue.
"I shall comment further after the RCI is completed," the BN leader from Sabah added.
According to a number of witnesses at the RCI, government officials were instructed to provide thousands of illegal immigrants identity cards and citizenship to enable them to vote in support of BN in Sabah.
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