RCI SABAH: GIVE US YOUR PROPOSAL

By : JAMIL MIRDAD

KOTA KINABALU: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah wants United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) to come up with a detailed mechanism for implementing its proposal to recall for re-issuance all identification cards from Sabah.

RCI Chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Keong said the commission would want to look at UPKO’s proposal on clearly lined up procedures for the exercise before it can make any consideration or recommendation.

“You have made a general proposal on the recall exercise and it would be interesting if you can come up with a detailed mechanism in regards to this exercise,” Shim told UPKO Secretary-General, Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau.

“It is very important for us to consider your proposal (but with details), otherwise we would not know what exactly you are proposing and how to implement it,”

The Tuaran Member of Parliament appeared before the commission as a witness on Tuesday, to share his knowledge as a former senior researcher for the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah, as well as his views and concerns as politician in regards to the illegal immigrants issue in Sabah.

Tangau, who served with the IDS back in the 80s and 90s where he was directly involved on some studies on illegal immigrants, earlier reiterated UPKO’s stand that there is a need to reassess the whole system in issuing identity card.

He said there were unanswered questions on the integrity of the whole system, the National Registration Department and the government as a whole in regards to the alleged issuance of citizenship to illegal or unqualified immigrants.

He stressed the whole system have to be reset and the government must come up with something that the people can trust, otherwise the question of integrity will always be in the mind of the people of Sabah.

Tangau in his testimony noted that he have in many occasions made a general speech in Parliament, questioning the sudden increase of population in Sabah that started in the 80s.

However, the ministers concerned have not yet given him a satisfactory reply.