Refugee details fast track path to citizenship

A refugee from Philippines said he and many others were made Malaysian citizens without them pursuing it, the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on Sabah's immigration problem heard today.

Ismail Balaka said he received his identity card three months after a mysterious group visited his settlement in Kinarut to take down their particulars. He could not remember when it happened.

"A group of people came in an unmarked vehicle and gathered everyone at the village hall. It was during day time but I cannot remember the date and year.

"They asked us to fill forms, took our thumb print and photograph. At that time I did not know what it was for but a friend said it was for identity cards," he said.

Prior to receiving the identity card, he held a settlement card issued by the settlement unit of the chief minister's department.

He acknowledged that he had never had IMM13 (Pas Lawatan Pelarian), green identity card (temporary resident) or red identity card (permanent resident) before obtaining the blue identity card.

The chain is the pathway for a refugee's naturalisation as a Malaysian citizen.

Ismail arrived in Sabah on a fishing boat 1975 from Pulau Ubian, Philippines while fleeing the civil conflict there.

[More to follow]