Pairin: Talk comes ‘cheap’ on illegal immigrants

The Huguan Siou denied that he was sleeping on the job and pledged to soon produce the report on the Technical Working Committee on Illegal Immigrants which he heads.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Huguan Siou and Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan, taking issue with his critics, has pledged that he would soon produce the report on the Technical Working Committee on Illegal Immigrants for the main Management Committee, under Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, to consider. Pairin heads the Technical Committee.

“I am going through my work. I will produce the report on my work as soon as possible,” said Pairin who denied that he was sleeping on the job. “I am working on the Report.”

He added that he could not say when the Report would be ready. “You will know when it’s out. The report has to be first submitted to the main committee. It will decide whether the report should be made public. It’s not up to me to decide. I hope the Management Committee will accept the Technical Committee’s recommendations.”

Pairin charged that Federal Minister Joseph Kurup and Upko Information Chief Albert Bingkasan had joined the Opposition, especially Bingkor assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan and former Sabah Chief Minister Yong Teck Lee, to criticize him “when he was doing his best”.

“Kurup is part of the government. He should be helping instead of criticizing in the newspapers. Talking is easy. At the same time, we must appreciate what the government has been doing on security issues and to overcome the illegal immigrants phenomenon.”

Pairin, who is also Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President, disclosed that he had already submitted preliminary reports on the work of his Committee. “The Chief Minister has confirmed that certain objectives have been executed.”

“The government is not waiting for the actual report of the Technical Committee to come in before taking preventive measures.”

The PBS President assured that the Sabah Government was taking note of all the various suggestions coming in through the media on the work of the Technical and Management Committees. “It’s not easy to just take one action to resolve the illegal immigrant issue. There are multiple steps to be taken.”

Pairin reminded that he did raise the issue in Parliament during his speech on Budget 2016. “The Federal Government must also work with its counterparts in the neighbouring countries to help resolve ongoing conflicts and civil wars which is the main reason why people leave their home countries as refugees.”

He warned against waiting until a Syria-like situation developed in neighbouring countries. “We must walk the talk. Let us also help resolve the local conflicts and civil wars.”