Former Upko Youth chief Arthur Sen says party founder Bernard Dompok was even willing to resign from his position as a federal minister if the RCI into Projek IC was not carried out.
KOTA KINABALU: A political activist has called on Upko acting president Wilfred Madius Tangau to demonstrate the same resolve in fighting for Sabah’s rights as party founder Bernard Dompok, especially in the Projek IC matter.
Tangau recently repeated Upko’s stand that all identification cards (ICs) in the state should be recalled and either reissued or renewed in order to curb the influx of illegal immigrants into Sabah.
Arthur Sen.
Arthur Sen, who resigned from Upko last month, said Dompok had once threatened to quit as a federal minister if the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Projek IC in Sabah was not implemented.
He said the call for the RCI started in 2012 after Hishammuddin Hussein, who was home minister at the time, asked former Upko deputy president Wilfred Bumburing to prove the existence of Projek IC.
Projek IC is the name used to describe the alleged systematic granting of citizenship to immigrants, whether legally or not, through the provision of ICs or MyKads.
Sen said Bumburing had prepared a report for Hishammuddin but no concrete solution was given, prompting Bumburing to leave Upko.
At the same time, he added, Dompok who was plantation industries and commodities minister had spoken out on the RCI proposal to investigate illegal immigrants and citizenship matters in Sabah.
“The basis (of Dompok’s threat to resign) was because he represented the decision of Upko members. He would have been seen as irrelevant in the federal Cabinet if the RCI was not approved.
“Not long after that,” Sen added, “the RCI was formed.”
He said Dompok had attended the hearing and presented his arguments based on the investigations carried out by a consultant engaged by Upko.
“A comprehensive study comprising 26 volumes recording the findings of the consultant was produced and submitted to the commission.
“That was when the suggestion began to recall all ICs in Sabah and for Sabah ICs to be reissued. Based on the report, it was surmised that syndicates were involved in the rampant sale of fake documentation.”
Sen said Dompok had shown exemplary resolve in the matter as he had been willing to quit his position as a federal minister if the RCI was not carried out.
He added that Upko members had trusted Dompok to solve the issue of illegal immigrants, particularly those who obtained ICs through backdoor methods.
“Hopefully Tangau has a similar determination in calling for Sabah ICs,” he said.
He also referred to de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong who had said it would be complicated to implement a Sabah IC as other states would be encouraged to ask for similar documents as well.
“To me, this means the Sabah IC can’t be implemented.” -FMT
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