SABAH RCI Some illegal immigrants have complained to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) that the identity cards handed over to them could only be used for “voting alone”, the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into immigrants in Sabah was told today.
Former Suhakam vice-chairperson Simon Sipaun (right) told the commission that he had come across several such complaints from immigrants themselves.
“He (an immigrant) told me that the IC is useless beyond voting. It can only be used to vote. He can’t travel because the IC doesn’t get him past airport immigration,” he said.
He also said that Suhakam had received complaints from such immigrants, who said that while they managed to obtain citizenship documents, their children are not being given documents despite applying.
“They admitted to me that they were not born here and didn’t have documentation when they got their documents,” he said.
“They told me they got the IC from a certain project,” he added.
Former Suhakam vice-chairperson Simon Sipaun (right) told the commission that he had come across several such complaints from immigrants themselves.“He (an immigrant) told me that the IC is useless beyond voting. It can only be used to vote. He can’t travel because the IC doesn’t get him past airport immigration,” he said.
He also said that Suhakam had received complaints from such immigrants, who said that while they managed to obtain citizenship documents, their children are not being given documents despite applying.
“They admitted to me that they were not born here and didn’t have documentation when they got their documents,” he said.
“They told me they got the IC from a certain project,” he added.
Similar to claims made by Sabah politicians this week - namely Jeffrey Kitingan and Dr Chong Eng Leong, Simon also held the opinion that the awarding of citizenship to immigrants was related to the government’s alleged intent to make Sabah “a Muslim state”.
“I got the impression that the federal government was uncomfortable with the fact that the state was being led by a non-Muslim,” he said.
He also said that if the government knows how to create the problem, it should also know how to “solve the problem”.
He warned that if the problem of immigrants becoming Sabahans is not addressed soon enough, “the future of Sabah will inevitably fall into their hands”.
“Eventually, they will infiltrate our politics and elect someone of their own kind. I hope this doesn’t happen,” he said.
Simon was also a former state secretary of Sabah between 1988 to 1993.
“I got the impression that the federal government was uncomfortable with the fact that the state was being led by a non-Muslim,” he said.
He also said that if the government knows how to create the problem, it should also know how to “solve the problem”.
He warned that if the problem of immigrants becoming Sabahans is not addressed soon enough, “the future of Sabah will inevitably fall into their hands”.
“Eventually, they will infiltrate our politics and elect someone of their own kind. I hope this doesn’t happen,” he said.
Simon was also a former state secretary of Sabah between 1988 to 1993.
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