SABAH RCI The illegal granting of citizenship to massive numbers of foreigners in Sabah has enabled immigrants to determine the nature of the state politics, veteran Sabah politician Wilfred Bumburing said today.
"If you look at the statistical election results in certain constituencies, the presence of illegal immigrants determines the outcome of the election," Wilfred told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into immigrants in Sabah in Kota Kinabalu today.
Wilfred (left), who is also Tamparuli assemblyperson, said one example could be discerned in the state constituency of Batu Sapi.
"It is very clear there that the immigrants there have overwhelmed the local voters," he said.
Wilfred, who has been in politics since 1985, said in the past, Muslim bumiputera and non-Muslim bumiputera in Sabah were in equal numbers.
However, this balance has been tilted through the illegal granting of citizenship status to Muslim immigrants.
"Last time the proportion in the state assembly was 20 non-Muslim bumiputera, 20 Muslim bumiputera and eight Chinese.
"Now, it has become 18 non-Muslim bumiputera, 34 Muslim bumiputera and eight Chinese seats," said the former BN politician who is now pro-Pakatan Rakyat.
Wilfred said he had raised this matter when he was the BN's Tuaran MP, but was brushed off by the Home Ministry.
"If you look at the statistical election results in certain constituencies, the presence of illegal immigrants determines the outcome of the election," Wilfred told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into immigrants in Sabah in Kota Kinabalu today.
Wilfred (left), who is also Tamparuli assemblyperson, said one example could be discerned in the state constituency of Batu Sapi."It is very clear there that the immigrants there have overwhelmed the local voters," he said.
Wilfred, who has been in politics since 1985, said in the past, Muslim bumiputera and non-Muslim bumiputera in Sabah were in equal numbers.
However, this balance has been tilted through the illegal granting of citizenship status to Muslim immigrants.
"Last time the proportion in the state assembly was 20 non-Muslim bumiputera, 20 Muslim bumiputera and eight Chinese.
"Now, it has become 18 non-Muslim bumiputera, 34 Muslim bumiputera and eight Chinese seats," said the former BN politician who is now pro-Pakatan Rakyat.
Wilfred said he had raised this matter when he was the BN's Tuaran MP, but was brushed off by the Home Ministry.
‘Government knows the ICs given illegally'
He then echoed calls from the Sabah-based BN parties, such as PBS and Upko, for all identity cards issued in the state to be revoked and reissued.
However, when pressed by Steve Shim (left), the former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak who heads the RCI, on a mechanism for such a move, Wilfred insisted that it was the government that had the answer.
"The government knows which identity cards were given illegally.
"If the commission can compel the government to reveal them, then a large part of it is solved," Wilfred said.
However, this did not mean that non-citizens who had stayed in Sabah for decades were to be expelled, he said, adding that they should be given permanent residency while their status was sorted out on a case-by-case basis.
He also submitted a memorandum containing research and evidence on the alleged illegal granting of citizenship to the RCI.
Wilfred, who was Upko deputy president and Tuaran MP, quit Upko last year and gave his backing to Pakatan Rakyat.
He failed to defend his Tuaran seat in last month's general election but won the state seat of Tamparuli.
Ten witnesses took the stand before the RCI today, the third day of the fifth hearing session. A total of 128 witnesses have testified since the hearing began in January.
He then echoed calls from the Sabah-based BN parties, such as PBS and Upko, for all identity cards issued in the state to be revoked and reissued.
However, when pressed by Steve Shim (left), the former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak who heads the RCI, on a mechanism for such a move, Wilfred insisted that it was the government that had the answer."The government knows which identity cards were given illegally.
"If the commission can compel the government to reveal them, then a large part of it is solved," Wilfred said.
However, this did not mean that non-citizens who had stayed in Sabah for decades were to be expelled, he said, adding that they should be given permanent residency while their status was sorted out on a case-by-case basis.
He also submitted a memorandum containing research and evidence on the alleged illegal granting of citizenship to the RCI.
Wilfred, who was Upko deputy president and Tuaran MP, quit Upko last year and gave his backing to Pakatan Rakyat.
He failed to defend his Tuaran seat in last month's general election but won the state seat of Tamparuli.
Ten witnesses took the stand before the RCI today, the third day of the fifth hearing session. A total of 128 witnesses have testified since the hearing began in January.
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