SABAH RCI An investigator for the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah today related how they felt threatened as if they were in a foreign land during their visits to the water villages in the state.
RCI chief investigating officer Mohd Azman Mohd Sabri said an example was the team’s visit to Kampung Bangau-Bangau, Semporna.
“We felt like we were not in our country, as if Kampung Bangau-Bangau was in Zamboanga (Philippines).
“We felt like being in Zamboanga because in the surrounding places the residents were all from their community,” he testified at the Kota Kinabalu court complex this morning.
RCI chief investigating officer Mohd Azman Mohd Sabri said an example was the team’s visit to Kampung Bangau-Bangau, Semporna.
“We felt like we were not in our country, as if Kampung Bangau-Bangau was in Zamboanga (Philippines).
“We felt like being in Zamboanga because in the surrounding places the residents were all from their community,” he testified at the Kota Kinabalu court complex this morning.
Azman said his team of 13 investigators faced a safety risk when entering these villages and took pains to convince the residents there that they were not enforcement officers.
“We had to give them a guarantee that they will not be arrested, that we were not here to enforce, we are only here to find facts to help the RCI.
“They agreed but we still felt threatened there because the number of foreigners was huge,” he said.
He added that many of those interviewed there identified themselves as coming from Zamboanga or Jolo, the Philippines.
‘End of RCI hearings’
Azman is the 211th and final witness to testify before the RCI, which turns a year old tomorrow since its formation.
From the time the team of investigators were assembled on Oct 1 last year until the conclusion of their duties on Sept 4 this year, Azman said a total of 361 witnesses were interviewed.
They were 123 government officers, 12 former Internal Security Act detainees, four authors, 12 politicians and 210 members of the public.
Among the prominent figures called were former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh.
They also visited 32 refugee settlements, 117 of 182 squatter areas, and 65 landing grounds from the sea into Sabah in the almost year-long investigation.
Later, conducting officer Manoj Kurup (left) informed the commission, led by Former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim, that the hearing stage of the RCI has concluded.
However, the RCI, which was set up on Sept 20, 2012, and expires tomorrow, has been given a three-month extension until Dec 21 to prepare its report.
“For us, the commissioners, the hard work begins from here on. We will have to go through all the evidence and exhibits.
“We will try our very best to get the report done by the end of this year that is the end of our term,” said Shim.
The atmosphere today was light-hearted, as court officials and investigators posed for farewell pictures after the final hearing which first began in January this year.
“We had to give them a guarantee that they will not be arrested, that we were not here to enforce, we are only here to find facts to help the RCI.
“They agreed but we still felt threatened there because the number of foreigners was huge,” he said.
He added that many of those interviewed there identified themselves as coming from Zamboanga or Jolo, the Philippines.
‘End of RCI hearings’
Azman is the 211th and final witness to testify before the RCI, which turns a year old tomorrow since its formation.
From the time the team of investigators were assembled on Oct 1 last year until the conclusion of their duties on Sept 4 this year, Azman said a total of 361 witnesses were interviewed.
They were 123 government officers, 12 former Internal Security Act detainees, four authors, 12 politicians and 210 members of the public.
Among the prominent figures called were former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh.
They also visited 32 refugee settlements, 117 of 182 squatter areas, and 65 landing grounds from the sea into Sabah in the almost year-long investigation.
Later, conducting officer Manoj Kurup (left) informed the commission, led by Former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim, that the hearing stage of the RCI has concluded.However, the RCI, which was set up on Sept 20, 2012, and expires tomorrow, has been given a three-month extension until Dec 21 to prepare its report.
“For us, the commissioners, the hard work begins from here on. We will have to go through all the evidence and exhibits.
“We will try our very best to get the report done by the end of this year that is the end of our term,” said Shim.
The atmosphere today was light-hearted, as court officials and investigators posed for farewell pictures after the final hearing which first began in January this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.