SABAH RCI A man who was a holder of the IMM13 for about 10 years said that he had to pay a “levy” of RM1,300 to renew the document every year.
Lim Yit Tiu told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into illegal immigrants in Sabah that he paid this fee every year from the “1990s” to 2004 when his application for a visit pass was approved.
“It was RM1,300 for me because I was working in a retail shop. Farmers or those working in plantations paid RM360,” he said to a question from RCI chairperson Steve Shim.
Conducting officer Jamil Aripin also told Shim that refugees were charged a levy of RM90 to renew the document yearly.
Lim, who entered Tawau from Pulau Sebatik, Indonesia with his family as a child, previously held the HIF22 document, a document originally issued to refugees by the Immigration Department.
He said the Immigration swapped it to an IMM13 when he renewed it in the 1990s.
Born in Indonesia but without any documentation, Liu finally received his permanent residency in 2004, “after many follow-ups and writing of letters”, 40 years after arriving in Sabah.
Lim Yit Tiu told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into illegal immigrants in Sabah that he paid this fee every year from the “1990s” to 2004 when his application for a visit pass was approved.
“It was RM1,300 for me because I was working in a retail shop. Farmers or those working in plantations paid RM360,” he said to a question from RCI chairperson Steve Shim.
Conducting officer Jamil Aripin also told Shim that refugees were charged a levy of RM90 to renew the document yearly.
Lim, who entered Tawau from Pulau Sebatik, Indonesia with his family as a child, previously held the HIF22 document, a document originally issued to refugees by the Immigration Department.He said the Immigration swapped it to an IMM13 when he renewed it in the 1990s.
Born in Indonesia but without any documentation, Liu finally received his permanent residency in 2004, “after many follow-ups and writing of letters”, 40 years after arriving in Sabah.
According to the Attorney-General’s Chambers official blog, an IMM13 was issued to refugees from the Philippines who entered Sabah and Labuan from 1972 to 1984.
Its predecessor was the IHH22, issued to refugees and their children for a cost of RM20 upon annual renewal starting Sept 12, 1972.
Its predecessor was the IHH22, issued to refugees and their children for a cost of RM20 upon annual renewal starting Sept 12, 1972.
IMM13 only allows free movement within Sabah
The IMM13 only allows free movement within Sabah and not the rest of Malaysia.
According to Liu, since obtaining permanent residency, he has applied and received a certificate of identity (CI) from the Immigration which allows him to travel outside of Malaysia.
The document, which acts like a passport, is valid for five years and costs RM500 to renew.
“But I have to get a visa to enter other countries and have to pay more,” said the retired shoe salesman, who testified in English.
He said he applied to be a citizen but was told he needed to be a permanent resident for 12 years before qualifying and will thus only qualify in 2016 despite having lived in Sabah for the bulk of his life.
Liu said he could not further his studies beyond Cambridge and School Certificate - the equivalent to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia - due to lack of identification papers.
Graduating from the Jesselton Middle School (now the Kota Kinabalu High School) he is married to a citizen and his only son holds a MyKad.
To a question from watching brief lawyer John Sinkuyan, he said that he was never approached by syndicates to obtain an IC through the back door.
He said his parents moved the family to Tawau for better economic prospects and due to “unstable political conditions” in Indonesia then.
“But I cannot say it was due to the Confrontation,” he said.
Both died holding green ICs - temporary ICs - in 1997 and 2001 respectively.
The IMM13 only allows free movement within Sabah and not the rest of Malaysia.
According to Liu, since obtaining permanent residency, he has applied and received a certificate of identity (CI) from the Immigration which allows him to travel outside of Malaysia.
The document, which acts like a passport, is valid for five years and costs RM500 to renew.
“But I have to get a visa to enter other countries and have to pay more,” said the retired shoe salesman, who testified in English.
He said he applied to be a citizen but was told he needed to be a permanent resident for 12 years before qualifying and will thus only qualify in 2016 despite having lived in Sabah for the bulk of his life.
Liu said he could not further his studies beyond Cambridge and School Certificate - the equivalent to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia - due to lack of identification papers.
Graduating from the Jesselton Middle School (now the Kota Kinabalu High School) he is married to a citizen and his only son holds a MyKad.
To a question from watching brief lawyer John Sinkuyan, he said that he was never approached by syndicates to obtain an IC through the back door.
He said his parents moved the family to Tawau for better economic prospects and due to “unstable political conditions” in Indonesia then.
“But I cannot say it was due to the Confrontation,” he said.
Both died holding green ICs - temporary ICs - in 1997 and 2001 respectively.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.