PBS denies changing stance in getting rid of illegal immigrants

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has never wavered from its stand that Sabah must be rid off of undocumented immigrants, said its secretary-general Joniston Bangkuai.

He rebutted the party's former senator Dr Chong Eng Leong, who raised concern that the implementation of reducing the voting age to 18 from 21, may grant voting rights to the undocumented immigrants who obtained their citizenship under Project IC since the early 1990s.

"We acknowledge the issues raised by Dr Chong but it is not right to say that PBS has changed its tune on undocumented immigrant issues. We were, are still, and will always be against their presence in Sabah. Sabah is for genuine Malaysians only," Bangkuai (above) said in a statement today.

He said the party wanted the Election Commission (EC) to only include genuine Sabahans in the electoral rolls following the implementation of Undi18.

"PBS has sought a meeting with the EC chairperson to discuss our concern and we are still waiting for it to materialise, despite numerous follow-ups."

"I have also written a letter to the EC asking it to only implement the Undi18 in Sabah after the state electoral rolls are cleared from dubious voters considering the large number of undocumented immigrants in the state," he said.

Yesterday, Chong raised concerns that the next general election would see at least one-third of registered voters in Sabah’s electoral rolls as first-time voters now that 18-year-old citizens have voting rights.

He said they were the result of "Project IC" citizens and their children or grandchildren who are now old enough to be registered.

"These Project IC citizens have voting rights - popularly referred to as phantom voters. It was estimated that 10 years ago at least 20 percent of registered voters in Sabah electoral rolls were Project IC citizens and their children who were old enough to be registered as voters,” he said.

"What is PBS’ stand now on this? I sincerely hope Maximus as the Federal Minister for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs is going to address this with the stakeholders and draw up a master plan to ‘solve’ all the problems related to immigrants in Sabah," Chong was quoted as saying by Daily Express.

Bangkuai, however, reminded Chong that Ongkili suggested a few weeks ago that the issue be discussed by Sabah lawmakers via an inter-party select committee.

He said in June 2020, Ongkili led a high-level PBS delegation to submit to Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin a memorandum containing suggestions to solve the illegal immigrants problem and had persistently pursued the matter.

"Among the suggestions were for the government to use the RCI on illegal immigrants and 'Project IC' findings as reference to deal with the long-standing problem (of illegal immigrants)," he said.

"Our stand on the illegal immigrants and "Project IC" issues remains, and PBS will continue to pursue a solution to the problem," said Bangkuai, who is also Kiulu Assemblyman and state assistant tourism, culture and environment minister.

"Lest we forget the need to rid Sabah off of illegal immigrants was pioneered and was among the key issues highlighted by PBS since its formation in 1985 and the party has been very consistent on the issue."

PBS' consistency on the issue is evident from the setting up of a special Bureau on illegal immigrants, headed by a senior party leader since its formation in 1985, he said.

The Bureau is currently headed by PBS deputy president Radin Malleh, added Bangkuai.

"We hope when the inter-party select committee is formed, it will not leave any stones unturned to determine the root of this problem and come up with proper solutions," he said.

Project IC or Project M was part of the allegations made against Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was prime minister between 1981 and 2003. He allegedly used the programme to expand Umno’s presence in the Borneo state. - Mkini