Illegals and Unemployment in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Unemployment among the youths in Sabah and the presence of illegal immigrants are some of the problems affecting Sabahans right now.

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Youth leader from Inanam, John Stephen Dionysius, who said this during his speech at the Youth Gathering cum Dinner themed "Sunrise after Tonight" at a local hotel in Kota Kinabalu.

After showing a video on the shocking revelation on "Projek M" or commonly called "Projek IC", John said this happened during former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir's era.

"Whether you like it or not or whether you believe or not these new breed of Malaysian citizens are already here and living among us within our community. They might be your neighbour, they might be your childhood playmate, they might be your college mate or university mate or they might even be your colleague or even worst they could be your family members today.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters let me share with you the fact to support whether the news has something to do with the increasing population in Sabah. The figure was provided by the Home Ministry in 2006 to an answer to our Member of Parliament for Sepanggar Datuk Eric Majimbun during Parliament seating.

"The Malaysian population in year 2000 is at 22,202,614. In 1970 Sarawak population stood at 976,269 and Sabah at 636,431. In year 2000, Sarawak population had increased to 2,012,616 an increased of 106%.

John said as for Sabah population had increased in 30 years to 2,449,389 from 636,431 an increased of 285% well ahead of Sarawak and today after year 2000 it is already balloon up to 3.1 million about 400% compare to Sarawak, 148% and west Malaysia, 165%.

"This figure is very alarming and it’s like a time bomb waiting to be exploded, as if the people of Sabah were extra productive in making babies..one wonders," said John.

Based on ethnic breakdown for Malaysian is Malay stand at 400 thousand, kadazan/dusun stand at 600 thousand, Bajau, 400 thousand, Murut, 100 thousand and others, 500 thousand and for your knowledge there is no Malay Sabah except in West Malaysia.

He said the question is that who is these OTHERS ... half a million?

"This I believe is the new generation of bumiputra Malaysian and believed to have outnumbered the local Sabahans especially the KadazanDusunMuruts (KDM) today. This so-called new breed of Malaysians also benefited to what the genuine local Sabahan enjoyed all the time such as application of land, education, employment but on the other hand they contributed to the increase in crime and poverty. The genuine people of Sabah have to compete with these newly and instant citizens.

"What is saddening and hurtful was when the ruling government and UMNO leaders denying the real fact and threat of illegal immigrants in Sabah whereas the people of Sabah knew this happening in front of their very eyes.

"The BN and in particular UMNO is responsible in issuing Mykad to this illegal and unqualified new bumiputra Malaysians.

"I like to challenge the ruling government especially UMNO to take legal action against me if what I have said here is false. And today Sabah has a 'Sultan' whereas for 47 years we never heard Sabah had one. Our lifes are always in fear with the scenario and threatening sovereignty of the state. Are you not feeling threatened?" he stormed.

"I called these BN leaders in Sabah traitors of their own races, traitors to the people of Sabah for failing to protect the interest of Sabah people. They are just like the Malay proverbs "Harap Pagar, Pagar Makan Padi".

John said that Sabahans were made to suffer and face the threat by BN giving Malaysian citizenship to illegals in order to serve their political ends and this is happening on a daily basis.

He said one of SAPP's plan is when they form the state government in the next GE13, its government will issue every genuine Sabahan a Sabah Identification Card (IC) to distinguish from the rest of other Malaysians. This is to safeguard and protect and ensure that only Sabah people benefit from the getting scholarship, land, employment and others.

Touching on unemployment in Sabah, John said that jobs are not easy to catch as job opportunities are less and less because the ruling government has failed to uplift the living standard especially the youth.

"Despite Sabah having the natural wealth in the country with abundance oil & gas, oil palm, timber and rubber, it is just unbelievable that Sabah is the poorest state in Malaysia and with unfair policies Sabahans are made to pay the highest of prices of goods. The World Bank report stated that 40% of poor Malaysians comes from Sabah.

"Sabah had to suffer from high cost of living with the lowest wages in Malaysia and our youths were forced to find jobs in the peninsular and abroad to make a decent income.

John also questioned the government's announcement that 40,000 jobs would be available to the people of Sabah through the inception of Sabah Development Corridor somewhere in 2007 and challenge them to reveal the figure on how many Sabahans got jobs since it was launched.

"In 2011 budget, Sabah BN has announced huge allocation of RM210.81 million to the Youth and Sports Ministry compared to RM3.8million in 2009 and RM4.8million last year. Has the amount successfully uplifted the standard living of the youth today? I doubt and the youths today remained status quo.

"I again demand the Ministry of Youth and Sport NKRA success rate to determine whether the ministry has achieved its goal in assisting the youth. Local Sabah were denied at federal government agencies and were given to those from Peninsular Malaysia as in the case of 400 computer technicians with SPM qualification sent to Sabah. We also have young adult who have the same skills and SPM qualification but why must the government transfer them to Sabah? The same case with teachers, teachers were transferred from West Malaysia to Sabah. This has made our young newly graduate teachers jobless.

"Is Sabah short of qualified and professional candidate to manage Sabah?" he questioned.

‘Gound Work’ SAPP Akan Berterusan

Saudara Pengarang,

Merujuk kepada satu artikel bertajuk ‘SAPP Wajar Hentikan Budaya Tikam Curi’ yang tersiar di portal Sabahkini.net dua hari lalu membuatkan saya terpanggil untuk memberikan jawapannya.

Nampaknya pihak Umno sudah merasa gusar dengan kehadiran pemuda SAPP di kawasan akar umbi dalam satu ‘Groundwork’ dipanggil ‘Misi ‘Fact Finding’ Pemuda SAPP Berjaya’, yang bertujuan untuk melihat sendiri sejauh mana keberkesanan projek projek pembangunan yang telah dijalankan kerajaan UMNO-BN setakat ini.

Disebabkan SAPP sebagai pembangkang yang berwibawa mendapat keyakinan daripada rakyat jelata kerana lantang bersuara, maka beberapa tohmahan daripada rakyat akar umbi telah diterima dengan pelbagai dakwaan yang tidak disenangi mereka selama ini.

Bagaimana pun, SAPP khususnya, Pemuda Zon Pedalaman mengambil satu langkah yang lebih sesuai, efektif dan adil untuk semua pihak terbabit, maka SAPP memutuskan tidak mendengar keluhan dan tohmahan rakyat secara ‘hearsay’ semata-mata tetapi sebaliknya pemuda SAPP terus sahaja meluru ke akar umbi menemui sendiri rakyat yang diulit masalah tetapi tidak dipedulikan kerajaan dan seterusnya mengambil maklumat mereka untuk direkod sebagai perhatian SAPP.

Misi ‘Fact Finding’ SAPP bukan sekadar tertumpu kepada aduan dan tohmahan masyarakat kerana disisihkan daripada hak mendapat pembelaan kebajikan mereka, tetapi juga perkara lain seperti tohmahan rakyat berhubung pembangunan yang dijalankan oleh kerajaan UMNO-BN tidak memuaskan, khususnya pembinaan bangunan yang terbengkalai atau projek-projek yang tidak sesuai dengan kosnya.

Harus diingat, bahawa peranan SAPP sebagai pembangkang sebahagian daripada objektif kerajaan dalam menyuburkan demokrasi dan hak kesaksamaan dalam proses pembangunan negara dan kerajaan UMNO-BN tidak sepatutnya melabelkan pembangkang dengan pelbagai warna bentuk cemuhan yang bukan bersifat manusia sejagat.

Walaupun Misi ‘Groundwork’ pemuda SAPP baru di peringkat awalan, namun ketika ini kelibat UMNO sudah kelihatan tidak menentu semacam ‘cacing kepanasan’ kerana kekhuatiran mereka bahawa misi SAPP akan menemui banyak lagi perkara sumbang berhubung pembangunan yang telah dilaksanakan kerajaan UMNO-BN setakat ini.

Aktiviti ‘Groundwork’ SAPP tidak akan berakhir di sini sahaja, malahan akan terus menerus sehingga berlaku PRU13. Bagaimanapun aktiviti yang telah dijalankan bagi ‘Groundwork’ SAPP; sebenarnya sudah berjalan selepas SAPP keluar daripada Gagasan BN pada 17 September 2008; tetapi tidak diberi peluang untuk mendapatkan hak publisiti meluas di media media cetak, berbanding dengan aktiviti yang dijalankan UMNO-BN yang bukan sahaja media cetak tetapi media elektronik turut memainkan peranan utama seperti TV1, 2, 3 dan Astro Awani kerana telah dikuasai kerajaan.

Walaupun terdapat andaian yang tidak sihat, mahupun kekangan daripada kalangan pemimpin kerajaan UMNO-BN bahawa tindakan Misi ‘Fact Finding’ pemuda SAPP Zon Pedalaman sekadar gimik politik atau mencari publisiti, tetapi misi ini tetap misi yang sebenar benarnya bagi SAPP dan tidak mengharapkan menjadi sumber publisiti di media cetak, kerana apa yang dijalankan SAPP, adalah sebagai memenuhi tanggung jawabnya kepada rakyat yang tertindas serta membendung gejala RASUAH serta PEMBAZIRAN wang rakyat secara berleluasa.

Tugasan misi ini tidak berakhir begitu sahaja, tetapi semua laporan dan gambar-gambar kejadian termasuk temuramah dengan para individu yang sudi memberi maklumat terperinci tentang kecurangan kerajaan telah direkod dan akan dijilidkan dengan laporan daripada daerah lain di Pedalaman untuk dikemukakan kepada pihak Ibu Pejabat SAPP Kota Kinabalu untuk rumusan, sebelum tindakan lanjut akan dilakukan.

Salam hormat,

RUDY S.MAIRI