How would I know they’re immigrants, says Shafie on support letters

 

Former Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal said he did not have the heart to reject the pleas for assistance as the stateless Sabahans had travelled long distances to seek his help. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Former Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal has defended writing letters of support to help those seeking to obtain citizenship or temporary resident documentation, amid claims some of them were illegal immigrants.

Shafie said he did not have the heart to reject the pleas of these individuals as they had travelled long distances to seek his help.

The Warisan president added he only penned support letters, and that the final decision on their applications was up to the national registration department (JPN), The Borneo Post reported.

“I didn’t know the background of the individuals seeking my support, whether they were Sabahans or non-citizens.

“As fellow human beings and as leaders, when people come from far-flung villages asking for letters of support to apply for identity cards, how would I know whether they are Sabahans or not? How would I know if they are immigrants?

“The authority lies with JPN, not me. But how could I turn someone away when they came all the way from Tongod and Pensiangan, bringing letters asking for help?” he was quoted as saying.

Shafie reiterated that the authority to issue identification papers lay with JPN and the home ministry, not him as chief minister at the time.

Meanwhile, Shafie’s lawyer, Chen Ket Chuin, said the support letters from Shafie were for stateless Sabahans applying for identification documents, not illegal immigrants.

Last Saturday, the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) urged the authorities to investigate two documents allegedly containing remarks that implied Shafie wanted the applications to be considered favourably.

One, dated April 26, 2019, asked the authorities to expedite an extension application from a resident of Semporna for the MyKAS temporary resident identity card, while the other dated Oct 9, 2019, was for the citizenship application of the child of a resident in Lahat Datu.

KDCA Youth chief Steve Johnny Mositun questioned the alleged political interference and urged JPN and the home ministry to disclose the number of MyKAS, MyPR, and MyKad applications supported by Shafie when he was the chief minister between 2018 and 2020. - FMT