NRD NEEDS PROOF TO PROBE

By : MARIAH DOKSIL

SABAH National Registration Department (NRD) Director Ismail Ahmad said no investigation would be conducted on a Filipina mistress who is said to have obtained her MyKad through the back door, without evidence such as name or identity card number.

Ismail said the state NRD had not received any official complaint on any Umno leader who had helped illegal immigrants obtain MyKads.

“We only read this from the newspapers and we can’t investigate without proof.

“If we have enough evidence, then we will conduct the investigation regardless of their position in the government,” said Ismail when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.

Meanwhile, the state Immigration Department will conduct its investigations on any individuals who have helped illegal immigrants obtain MyKads through the back door regardless of position or rank.

Its director, Mohammad Mentek, said the state Immigration Department was made aware by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) information chief Chong Pit Fah after reading the newspapers that a senior state Umno leader was keeping a Filipina mistress who had obtained her MyKad through the back door.

“We are aware of the statement published in the newspapers but we have not received any reports and further information on this particular case.

“We definitely will conduct investigation without looking at their position or rank,” said Mohammad.

Chong had on April 8, urged the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of a report from a news portal, Sabahkini.net, implicating a senior state Umno leader of keeping a Filipina mistress.

In making the call, Chong stressed that the said news report warranted urgent attention and a thorough investigation as the said leader was said to have allegedly abused his position as a state legislator by keeping a Filipina mistress who is believed to be originally an illegal immigrant.

The said Umno assemblyman is believed to have abused his position to secure a Malaysian citizenship for his Filipina mistress.

According to the report in Sabahkini.net, the said Filipina mistress is holding a MyKad and a Malaysian international passport.

Meanwhile, State Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Jimmy Wong has called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the NRD to carry out an in-depth probe into the allegation against the senior State Umno assemblyman.

Wong said the allegation was serious and had made Sabahans become more aware of the repercussions of having many ‘instant citizens’ in their midst.

“The situation has become intolerable and cannot be ignored any longer. The people have called for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate into the illegal immigrant problems in the State, including those who have attained instant Malaysian citizenship through ‘the backdoor’,” Wong remarked in Tawau yesterday.

He added, “if the allegation holds water, then it shows how easy it is for illegal immigrants to obtain the MyKad with the tacit assistance of those in power and who high-handedly abuse that power for their own selfish ends, without due regard for the security and well-being of the people of Sabah.

“I urge the government to take an immediate action into the allegation as the people stand united in wanting to know the truth.”

He also said that if the RCI is not established and if many reported and unreported allegations are not probed into by the relevant departments, it will be very difficult to differentiate the real Sabahans and the false ones.

“Those who acquired citizenship through the proper channel and those who were granted instant citizenship through the ‘backdoor’ are two different matters, and those in the latter category should be exposed along with those who helped them,” he said. (theborneopost)