'NRD's G17 processed over 100k blue ICs for foreigners'

A special unit dubbed G17 operated out of the Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) headquarters in Kota Kinabalu beginning 1990 and was responsible for processing the application forms for some 100,000 blue identity cards for immigrants, the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah was told today.

Kee Dzulkifly Kee Abdul Jalil, who was part of the unit, said he was tasked to write down the numbers on the blue identity cards that was then done manually before they were shipped to Kuala Lumpur.

“I wrote down the names according to what is in the application forms that were given to us,” he said, adding that the unit processed an estimated 100,000 such identity cards.

Furthermore, he said his unit was also responsible for issuing letters of approval for birth certificates, which he estimated the unit had produced some 200,000 for the children of immigrants.

“This approval letter would allow them to get hospitals or district office to issue them with a birth certificate,” he said. He admitted to being paid RM80,000 for his work.

Beginning 1987, statutory declaration were no longer accepted for the application of blue identity card and birth certificates were required.

He added that later, such applicants were charged RM300 each and the funds were then channeled to G17.

He said the targets were primarily Muslims from Indonesia, the Philippines and Pakistan, some of whom were later recruited to work for unnamed political parties.

He was later detained under the Internal Security Act from 1995 until 1997, followed by another year of house arrest.

Also testifying today were Kee Dzulkifly’s former NRD colleagues who were all involved in the operation and detained under ISA, namely Asli Sidup, Alcop Damsah @ Yakup Damsah, Nasit Sugip and their boss Ramli Kamaruddin.