The federal government must bear the ultimate responsibility if the political mood in Sabah were to change for the worse, says Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
KOTA KINABALU: The recent murder of a by-stander, during a robbery by an illegal immigrant in Sabah, has thrown into sharp focus the giant in the room – the massive presence of illegal immigrants in the state.
In its strongest protest so far, a loyal Barisan Nasional ally said that the continued blatant disregard for the rule of law where foreigners were allowed to roam the streets with impunity would spell doom for Sabah’s ruling coalition.
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) secretary-general, Henrynus Amin said that there is an urgent need for the federal government to resolve the perennial illegal immigration issue that has bugged the state seen as a ‘fixed-deposit’.
He deplored the failure of the federal government to deal with the huge presence of the foreign transient population of Sabah.
Henrynus, a former Member of Parliament, said the people of Sabah would not stand idly by if the state security situation degenerates into chaos due to the huge number of foreigners, mostly illegal immigrants, who may now have outnumbered the local population in certain districts.
He said as immigration is a federal matter, Putrajaya is expected to exercise its constitutional responsibility to ensure the security of the state.
“The federal government must bear the ultimate responsibility if the political mood were to change for the worse,” he said.
“Security is a serious matter of emotive significance with far reaching implications to the future wellbeing of the people of Sabah and the integrity of the nation if not handled properly and wisely,” he said.
He said the federal government should expect strong reactions by the people of Sabah any time as they are united to fight what they see as federal indecision and inaction.
“There are already enough people out there who are discontented and talking about their regret joining Malaysia.
“They cherish the time when Sabah was free from the threats of illegal immigration,” said Henrynus.
Govt must act now
The federal government must act now and decisively to turn the tide of public opinion in their favour.
“The federal government as the guardians of the security of the state as spelled out in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the federal constitution cannot ignore the plea of the people of Sabah,” he said.
The former MP said federal leaders must remember that the only reason Sabah joined the then Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore in the formation of Malaysia was the need for security.
He said regional security and the need for military protection, rather than economic necessity, prompted the decision of the then independent territory to agree to the formation of Malaysia.
He said trumpeting economic achievement of the country would be meaningless if the security of the state is compromised and the people live in fear.
He pointed to the fact that the formation of Malaysia was achieved against the backdrop of the Philippines claim to Sabah and the aggressive Indonesian “crush Malaysia” campaign.
“There were already genuine concerns or fears of Sabah being overwhelmed by its neighbours, chiefly Indonesia and the Philippines, and to some extent, the then Malaya.
“Sabah leaders even asked to be protected from the more dominant and aggressive people from Malaya and Singapore,” he said.
Sabah has unique immigration powers that were granted through the Malaysia Agreement and later endorsed in the Federal Constitution to allow the people of Sabah to protect their state from foreign intrusion and domination.
“This explains why until recently West Malaysians and Sarawakians must go through the immigration checks with their international passport to enter Sabah.”
Return immigration powers
While the Malaysians from West Malaysia or Sarawak no longer use a passport to enter the state, they are still required to present themselves for immigration check and require a work pass to work in Sabah.
“If indeed the Federal government cannot handle or refuse to listen to the grouses of the people on the matter, then the people of Sabah mustmdemand for the immigration powers given or returned to the state,” Henrynus said.
He said patience is running thin in Sabah and there is lingering suspicion that elements within the Federal government are sympathetic to the foreigners.
According to him, the people of Sabah are not oblivious to the fact that thousands of foreigners have been issued with identity cards.
“In fact, foreigners are flocking to the Registration Department for their ICs, passports, and even applying and buying native land, getting trading licenses, opening bank account(s), and today dominating certain segments of the state economy chiefly the construction sector, transportation and plantation (sectors).
The demographic profile of Sabah has changed in recent years with foreigners dominating in certain districts, such as Kinabatangan, where, reports say, the local population has been relegated to mere 30% of the district population.”
Henrynus said the signs are evident everywhere as almost every corner of the state especially open markets or night markets, construction sites and plantations are dominated by foreigners.
Reports have also surfaced that in some towns, strangers with a strong foreign accent have gained control of the most strategic areas and stalls and have even chased away locals for the best spots in state-controlled markets.
Federal system not working
Henrynus said PBS is extremely concerned that the federal system on matters of security, immigration and enforcement is no longer working the way it should.
The party also voiced concern that the federal authorities seem powerless or lack the political will to deal with the transient foreign population.
While PBS has spoken against syndicates specializing in issuing Malaysian identity cards in the past, it is surprised that no one has been charged in the courts for these crimes.
Henrynus contended that the police who arrested those involved in the IC scam under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the past, were in fact just sweeping the whole issue under the carpet as crucial information about the masterminds or real perpetrators were sealed from public scrutiny.
“It is public knowledge that using the ISA against these syndicates is nothing but mere public relation exercise to hoodwink the people into thinking that the government had acted.
“Unless evidence is produced in the court of law and those committing criminal acts are punished to the full extent of the law, it does not take a genius to realize that the use of ISA is a mere ploy to silence witnesses rather than investigating and punishing the guilty ones,” he said.
The party, Henrynus said, is ready to render assistance to the federal authorities in whatever way necessary to weed out those who sympathize or are colluding with illegal IC syndicates now deeply embedded in government departments or agencies.
He said it would be a legitimate demand for the state to refer back to the Malaysia Agreement where the state was given certain immigration powers to protect itself.
What he envisages is a mechanism whereby the state would be allowed to create its own state immigration enforcement body and enforce the immigration laws applicable to Sabah.
Henrynus, however, said that PBS has no dispute over foreigners working legally in the state but has set a deadline to resolve the illegal immigrant problem by 2012.
He said the day-to-day police operations like setting up road blocks, checking Identity Cards or conducting immigration raids are “largely seen by the public as mere window dressing”.
The party stand comes after increasing worries that the opposition would tap the dissatisfaction felt in the state over the issue during the next general election.
By Michael Kaung
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