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| Police personnel check the identity of passengers on a road leading to Kampung Tanduo, in Lahad Datu March 8, 2013. — Reuters pic |
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 ― New identity cards (ICs) for “genuine” Sabahans should be issued to replace the existing MyKads that have cast doubt on the legality of their Malaysian citizenships, say three Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) parties.
The Borneo Post daily reported today that United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) chief Tan Sri Bernard Dompok made the proposal to re-issue the mandatory document in the wake of public ire over the flood of immigrants naturalised under a controversial project in the 1980s and which has become central to the national security after a 200-strong Sulu militant group invaded the north Borneo state early last month.
“This will provide an opportunity for us in Sabah to prove the authenticity of our citizenship so that only genuine Sabahans will be issued with citizenship documents like the new identity card,” Dompok was quoted as saying at a news conference in Penampang, on Sabah’s west coast yesterday.
The federal minister in charge of plantations, industry and commodities said he will propose the idea to the five-man royal commission of inquiry (RCI) investigating the massive influx of foreigners into Sabah, which has seen its population nearly tripled within 20 years.
“What I am saying here is that it is very obvious that we have to take this opportunity to reset things in Sabah and as you can see, a lot of people are disturbed by the arrival of uninvited guests by way of the sea.
“I was told that there are a lot of others who have got identity cards. It is now difficult to ascertain the legality of the identification documents. I feel that the only way is to collect all these identity cards and give fresh cards so that it can settle once and for all who exactly is the citizen of this country and who are eligible to become the native of Sabah,” he was quoted saying further.
The Penampang MP also suggested that the naturalisation process be tightened further by requiring citizenship hopefuls to advertise their applications publicly much like how marriage banns are posted to allow for vetting before engaged couples are allowed to wed.
Dompok’s idea was backed by his allies representing the core of the state ruling coalition’s main indigenous Kadazan, Dusun and Murut communities ― Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan from the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup from the United Sabah People’s Party (PBRS).
Kitingan, who is also Sabah deputy chief minister, was reported saying Dompok’s proposal had merit as there were many aspects about the state’s population that was unclear due to the lack of records on its illegal immigrants, and those who had gained citizenship through questionable channels.
“When we take into consideration our plans to ensure that the rakyat in Sabah are given focus, we need to know who the real Malaysians are. That is why we need to take steps to ensure that we get the true facts and details,” the PBS president was quoted saying.
The ongoing RCI needed to examine the allegations of suspect award of citizenship to unqualified applicants as the authorities could not deny it had happened previously, Kurup, who is deputy minister of natural resources and the environment, reportedly said.
“The MyKad is a passport to what Sabahans are entitled to like scholarships and we do not want it to be abused by those who do not qualify,” he was quoted saying.
The longstanding issue of illegal immigrants that has continued unchecked for decades has turned emotive among Sabah natives like the Kadazandusun and Murut communities, many of whom feel that the state has been robbed of its sovereignty through the massive influx of foreigners from neighbouring Philippines and Indonesia.
More than a quarter of Sabah’s population are foreigners, totalling a staggering 889,000 out of the 3.2 million-strong population in Sabah, or about 28 per cent, based on a 2010 census.
Sabah has 926,638 voters, according to a June report in English-language daily The Star.
The large number of foreigners has also worried Sabah natives, who often blame them for the rise in crime and for stealing job opportunities.
Some 200 Filipino gunmen led by Agbimuddin Kiram had entered Sabah through its porous east coast on February 9, where they have been engaged in violent clashes with Malaysia’s defence forces that have killed eight policemen, two soldiers and several civilians of unknown nationality since.
More than 60 Sulu militants have also died in the conflict in their bid to stake a 17th century ownership on the resource-rich state.
The Borneo Post daily reported today that United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) chief Tan Sri Bernard Dompok made the proposal to re-issue the mandatory document in the wake of public ire over the flood of immigrants naturalised under a controversial project in the 1980s and which has become central to the national security after a 200-strong Sulu militant group invaded the north Borneo state early last month.
“This will provide an opportunity for us in Sabah to prove the authenticity of our citizenship so that only genuine Sabahans will be issued with citizenship documents like the new identity card,” Dompok was quoted as saying at a news conference in Penampang, on Sabah’s west coast yesterday.
The federal minister in charge of plantations, industry and commodities said he will propose the idea to the five-man royal commission of inquiry (RCI) investigating the massive influx of foreigners into Sabah, which has seen its population nearly tripled within 20 years.
“What I am saying here is that it is very obvious that we have to take this opportunity to reset things in Sabah and as you can see, a lot of people are disturbed by the arrival of uninvited guests by way of the sea.
“I was told that there are a lot of others who have got identity cards. It is now difficult to ascertain the legality of the identification documents. I feel that the only way is to collect all these identity cards and give fresh cards so that it can settle once and for all who exactly is the citizen of this country and who are eligible to become the native of Sabah,” he was quoted saying further.
The Penampang MP also suggested that the naturalisation process be tightened further by requiring citizenship hopefuls to advertise their applications publicly much like how marriage banns are posted to allow for vetting before engaged couples are allowed to wed.
Dompok’s idea was backed by his allies representing the core of the state ruling coalition’s main indigenous Kadazan, Dusun and Murut communities ― Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan from the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup from the United Sabah People’s Party (PBRS).
Kitingan, who is also Sabah deputy chief minister, was reported saying Dompok’s proposal had merit as there were many aspects about the state’s population that was unclear due to the lack of records on its illegal immigrants, and those who had gained citizenship through questionable channels.
“When we take into consideration our plans to ensure that the rakyat in Sabah are given focus, we need to know who the real Malaysians are. That is why we need to take steps to ensure that we get the true facts and details,” the PBS president was quoted saying.
The ongoing RCI needed to examine the allegations of suspect award of citizenship to unqualified applicants as the authorities could not deny it had happened previously, Kurup, who is deputy minister of natural resources and the environment, reportedly said.
“The MyKad is a passport to what Sabahans are entitled to like scholarships and we do not want it to be abused by those who do not qualify,” he was quoted saying.
The longstanding issue of illegal immigrants that has continued unchecked for decades has turned emotive among Sabah natives like the Kadazandusun and Murut communities, many of whom feel that the state has been robbed of its sovereignty through the massive influx of foreigners from neighbouring Philippines and Indonesia.
More than a quarter of Sabah’s population are foreigners, totalling a staggering 889,000 out of the 3.2 million-strong population in Sabah, or about 28 per cent, based on a 2010 census.
Sabah has 926,638 voters, according to a June report in English-language daily The Star.
The large number of foreigners has also worried Sabah natives, who often blame them for the rise in crime and for stealing job opportunities.
Some 200 Filipino gunmen led by Agbimuddin Kiram had entered Sabah through its porous east coast on February 9, where they have been engaged in violent clashes with Malaysia’s defence forces that have killed eight policemen, two soldiers and several civilians of unknown nationality since.
More than 60 Sulu militants have also died in the conflict in their bid to stake a 17th century ownership on the resource-rich state.
Source: MalaysianInsider
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