Indian migrant joined Rela, got BR1M, RCI told

SABAH RCI An Indian national who arrived in Sabah obtained Malaysian citizenship within two years. He then went on to join Rela and received the RM500 government aid for low income earners as well.

Peer Mohamad Kadir, who was born in Chennai in Tamilnadu, India, told the royal commission of inquiry on immigrants in Sabah today that he arrived in the state in 1984 with his uncle, using an Indian passport.

"In 1986, my uncle helped me apply for a blue identity card at the National Registration Department in Kota Marudu," Peer Mohamad said when questioned by conducting officer Jamil Aripin (left).

He said his uncle used a statutory declaration to apply for the blue identity card and the application was successful.

Prior to 1991, the NRD accepted statutory declarations as evidence that one is a local-born Sabahan and this has been open to abuse.

Jamil: You were a Rela member?
Peer Mohamad: Yes

Jamil: Are you still one?
Peer Mohamad: I have not been active in a long time.

Jamil: With your new IC you got BR1M, correct?
Peer Mohamad: Yes

Jamil: Do you think you qualify for BR1M?
Peer Mohamad responds with a nod to mean ‘yes'.

'I voted in GE13'

Peer Mohamad claimed that even though he lost the blue identity card in 1992, he was given a temporary National Registration Department (NRD) receipt which he even used to vote, before eventually getting a proper replacement card.

The receipt is issued prior to the issuance of a blue identity card or is given as a temporary document for a lost blue identity card and carries the same status of citizen.

Peer Mohamad claimed he had also voted in last month's national polls in the state constituency of Likas.

When grilled by Jamil if he conceded that his identity card was illegally obtained, Peer remained silent and later replied, "I cannot answer that question".

Peer Mohamad, who is also a member of the Sabah Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce, denied that his organisation had recruited Indian nationals and helped them obtain Malaysian citizenship.