Digest on Malaysian News

Ops Bersepadu currently ongoing in Sabah has seen a total of 312,837 pilaks (illegal immigrants) mostly from Indonesia and the Philippines have been registered as legal workers in Sabah under first phase.

Over three hundred thousand sound big but it just a tip of an iceberg. Before the Ops Bersepadu kick off, millions of those illegal immigrants has slipped out of Sabah temporarily. They will return from their hiding when the authority has left their settlement.

There is no mention of what the authority will do in the next phase of Ops Bersepadu. The authority (if there care to read) could do the following:
* destroy any abandoned shelters of the illegal immigrants so that they do return to the same place.
* re-screen the 312K registered illegal for criminal records. Evicts them immediately if they have any criminal record.
* frequent patrol on known immigrant settlements and watch out for new faces.

Related posts:
* RM50 million for illegals eradication in Sabah
*

From TheStar

Sabah legalises 312,837 illegal immigrants
By MUGUNTAR VANAR

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 312,837 illegal immigrants have been registered as legal workers in Sabah under first phase of Ops Bersepadu as it moves into the second phase to flush out remaining illegal immigrants.

State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman said Indonesians made up the largest group with 217,367 registering while 95,470 Filipinos registered during the three month programme that allowed them to legalise their stay in Sabah without going back.

During the operations that begun on Aug 7, 192,889 of 312,837 registered as foreign workers while the remaining were their family members, he said.

Under the first phase, the authorities allowed foreign workers to obtain their countries’ passport locally and apply for a work permit with employers sponsoring them. They did not have to go back to their home country.

The response from the employers was good.

The objective of the operations - to document illegal foreign workers and clean up Sabah of illegal immigrants - was showing positive results, he said.

Sukarti, who is director of the integrated operations, said that over 30,000 migrants were checked in 460 areas that included villages, squatters, building sites, plantations and factories between Aug 7 to Nov 5.

Of the 30,000 screened, 2,714 were found to be illegal immigrants without any document or employer.

He said that, during the period, a total of 3,218 illegal immigrants were deported bringing the total to 16,321 up to Nov 5 this year.

Sukarti said under the second phase, the authorities would close in on groups that had evaded the authorities during the first phase of operations.

He said the second phase of the operations would begin in the west coast of the state and checks for illegal immigrants will continue until the problem no longer existed.

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On the first day of the operation, not many illegal immigrants (the pilaks) were detained as many of them were believed to have gone into hiding or returned to their home country in view of widely publicized massive operations.

Abdul Razak Abdul Ghani, Sabah Deputy State Police Commissioner said that they had actually anticipated to detain lower numbers of illegal immigrants this time due to earlier publicity of the operations. Guess who publicized the operation against the illegals ? Najib BIG MOUTH.

Najib big mouth act as an early warning for the pilak a few weeks in advance. Enough for the pilak to hide elsewhere until the operation is over.

So right now, it Sabah (Malaysia) 0, Pilak 1.

Related news:
* Sabah: Rights groups talking nonsense

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt from NewsSabahTimes

Operation against illegals continues

KOTA KINABALU: The latest operation to flush out illegal immigrants was conducted in Pulau Gaya and other immigrant hot spots around the city.

On the first day of the operation, not many illegal immigrants were detained as many of them were believed to have gone into hiding or returned to their home country in view of widely publicised massive operations.

Among those detained were children whose parents did not possess valid documents. Many managed to flee upon seeing the arrival of the enforcers knocking on the doors of their ‘kongsi’ and rented homes.

“The operation was conducted smoothly without any untoward incidents. We had actually anticipated to detain lower numbers of illegal immigrants this time due to earlier publicity of the operations,” said deputy State Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Ghani.

From the predawn sweep in Pulau Gaya, six Filipinos including a child were found without proper documents from among a total of 131 detained by police in various areas in the city and Penampang.

The screening process was carried out by the Immigration Department, National Registration Department and the Federal Special Task Force.

Those without legal documents would be sent to the temporary detention centre in Menggatal or the new centre at the army’s Kem Paradise in Kota Belud. Detainees would be deported after relevant travel documents are processed by the embassies.

The operations are being coordinated by a secretariat under the State Security Council headed by Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman and overseen by the Home Ministry.

These operations are expected to continue for the next few months in the west coast and followed by the east coast districts.


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RM50 million is required for illegals eradication in Sabah, for this year. And Musa Aman, the Chief Minister of Sabah is reminding everyone not to politicised the RM50 million allocation.

Bear in mind, the RM50million allocated is for the coming operation and we are not sure if RM50 million is required for every operation in the future.

The sore point for the RM50 million, is why the amount when Malaysia have various agencies that can be pull together to mount the operation. Such existing agencies are the Navy, the Army, RELA, Police, Field Force, Immigration and Marine Enforcement. Most of the time, those personnel are idling at their camps. Just coordinate a mission and deploy them and keep them busy. This will make Sabah safer and peaceful.

In addition to the allocation amount, the government is also been criticized for publishing the news weeks before the commencement of the operation. Najib being a big mouth, has spilled the beans and by this time, all the illegals probably disappeared.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Extract from the New Sabah Times

DON’T PLAY POLITICS OVER SWOOP ON ILLEGALS

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said the exercise to flush out illegal immigrants should not be politicised to gain political mileage.

He said some quarters are purposely being skeptical and even accused the government of merely paying lip service to the issue of ridding Sabah of illegal immigrants.

“Is spending RM50 million on this exercise just a lip service? This is a serious matter,” he said during a dialogue with chambers of commerce, NGOs as well as representatives from planters associations and the construction industry at the Federal Building here yesterday

Musa who is also the State Security Committee chairman added that the state and federal governments are both committed to tackling the problem,”

He said this commitment was clearly demonstrated by the fact that a high-powered committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister has been set up to tackle the problem in a systematic and coordinated manner.

“This is no ordinary exercise. It involves a lot of planning, manpower and funding.”

Musa also said for the exercise to achieve the desired results, there must be full cooperation from everyone including the private sector especially employers of migrant workers.

The government, he added, welcomed the views and feedbacks from the private sector, professional associations and NGOs.

“And, that is why we have this briefing and dialogue session. We want to hear what your concerns are,” he said.

Musa said the government was open to recommendations from the private sector including request for levy on foreign workers to be reduced.

And, he said the people of Sabah also have to accept the fact that the various sectors especially plantation and construction were dependent on foreign workers.

“We want this exercise to be effective but at the same time we do not want the sectors that are labour intensive to be adversely affected due to shortage of workers.

“We do not want the economic development of the state to be hampered,” he pointed out.

The Chief Minister also said cooperation from employers in only employing foreign workers with valid documents was crucial in overcoming the illegal immigrant problem in the state.

“As such, I hope there will be cooperation…don’t just expect the government alone to solve this problem,” he said.

The private sector too has a big role.” Also present at the dialogue session were State Secretary, Datuk Sukarti Wakiman, deputy secretary-general of the Home Ministry, Datuk Raja Azhar Raja Abdul Manaf, Federal Secretary to Sabah Datuk Ismail Wadin and state immigration director Datuk Baharom Talib.

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Yes, that's right. Najib Tun Razak the DPM of Malaysia indeed has big mouth. I know he and his officials are working on the problem illegals immigrant in Sabah.

But don't lar announce to the world that there will be a massive cleaning operation against the illegals. And he did just that. This news has alerted the illegals and they have a couple of weeks to lay low or self-deport themselves out of Sabah and to return when the operation is over.

The media estimate of 100K to 150K illegals is also way off. The actual number is definitely more.

And get this, another RM50 million is required to kick start this operation. What the heck. The armed forces are around. The police forces are around. The Immigration enforcement are around. It just need a proper planning and coordination to mount the operation. Maybe that RM50 million is needed to mobilize the two submarines to Sabah water, huh.

And Najib is only taking about chasing the illegals away. There is no policy on who to secure Sabah water and to prevent the illegals from reentering the State. Another half-cooked effort from the government.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: TheStar

Massive swoop on illegals in Sabah next month

KUALA LUMPUR: A massive crackdown on illegal immigrants in Sabah will start next month, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

An estimated 100,000 to 150,000 illegal immigrants, those without documents or who have overstayed, will be deported. The crackdown would be open ended and continuous.

“This shows that the Government has the political will to resolve the issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah. We do not want this problem to recur,” said Najib after chairing a meeting on illegal immigrants with Sabah political leaders, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and others at Parliament yesterday.

He also said the Cabinet, at its meeting last Friday, had approved RM50mil for the purchase of equipment and expenses for the operation to be led by the police and state secretary to co-ordinate the move.

The operation would involve multi agencies such immigration, armed forces, Rela and others.

“The Home Ministry has also had bilateral talks with the Philippines and Indonesia on the operation,” he said.

Najib also said the Home Ministry would discuss with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry on how to handle street children and to have a place to house them.

The operation would start from the west part of Sabah as a detention transit camp was ready, and move east, he said.

The last crackdown on illegal immigrants in Sabah was in 2001.

On Raja Petra Kamaruddin being slapped with criminal defamation charges, Najib said: “ I don’t decide.”

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Illegal immigrants from the Philippines and Indonesia kept coming to Sabah's shore while the Cabinet is debating on the issue.

Datuk Yong Teck Lee, the President of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) is spot on when he suggested "What the Government must show is a firm political will and more resources, manpower and logistics by bringing in the military, enhancing RELA, special operations to detain the ring leaders (or snakeheads), transfer of the Malaysian Consulate from Davao to Zamboanga and the setting up of a Philippine Consulate in Sabah."

Right now, the Cabinet is haggling over the issue instead of going practical about the problem. In fact, it is the sole responsibility of the government to take action and not waiting for the Member of Parliaments to debate over it as this concern national security and border breach.

It seems that local ministers especially those from PBS, the Police, Military, Navy and Immigration Department are being mind-controlled by their UMNO masters from Putra Jaya. UMNO would not want to tackle the problem seriously because if the government deport the illegals, they will definitely lose their voters who are of illegal immigrant origin but have been Malaysianised or regularized with free MyKad.

Look at United States's Coast Guard, their objectives and duties are to protect U.S water or maritime territory. US Coast Guard do their duty without reminder from the citizen or the government. Don't tell me that our Navy only lepak at their Naval Base in Sepangar Bay.

If the government is not being practical about the illegal immigrants issue in Sabah, it just prove that UMNO have hidden agenda and will by all mean allow illegal immigrants to squat in Sabah and allow them to vote for UMNO once in every five years.

The pri-bumi of Sabah led by the KadazanDusu should be overzealous on their territory. Today, they are being slack and accommodative to the illegal immigrants. In the near future, don't be surprise if the illegal immigrants is the majority pri-bumi of Sabah.

Related posts:
* PBS leaders ignored illegal immigrants problem in Sabah
* Sabahan will address the illegals as TUAN in future





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Source: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=57802

Action on illegals does not depend on commission: Yong

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Yong Teck Lee on Monday hoped the ongoing debate over a Royal Commission or a Select Committee will not defer urgent action against illegal immigrants, which is much more important, in Sabah.

"Do not allow the debate over a Royal Commission or a Select Committee to defer urgent action against illegal immigrants because the sovereignty of the nation and security of the people is a most basic duty of the Government," he said.

"The Government must not fail to defend the country's borders and protect the local citizens against huge numbers of illegal immigrants for instance, the authorities' plan to deport 500 illegals per month (or a meagre 6,000 per year) is a joke," added the former Chief Minister.

Yong said in debating the merits or otherwise of a Parliamentary Select Committee on illegal immigrants "we should recall our experiences and not waste time starting all over again."

He said the State Legislative Assembly had actually formed a Select Committee on May 15, 2001 to address the issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah.

The members, he said, included Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh (now MP for Kalabakan), Datuk Wilfred M. Bumburing (now MP for Tuaran), Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili (now MP for Kota Marudu and Federal Minister), Datuk Radin Malleh (now Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister), together with then Assemblymen Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Bingkor) and Datuk Mohd Lan Allani (Sulabayan) and himself (Likas).

"My membership in the committee had become uncertain as a result of the election petition and Likas and Gaya by-elections at the time," said Yong in a statement.

The committee met twice - on June 12 and July 2, 2001 - and the final report containing facts and figures was dated October 13, 2001, he said, adding the said report (now available at www.sapp.org.my) is sufficient as an official document for further action, of which sadly there has been little.

"Therefore, I doubt whether another Select Committee, even at the Parliamentary level, will make any difference," he said.

Yong said the reality is that the formation of a Royal Commission, a favourite subject of the PBS before it re-joined BN in 2003, is up to the Federal Cabinet, not Parliament.

And as shockingly revealed by a PBS Supreme Councillor, he said it was the PBS Federal Cabinet Minister who lobbied against the motion on a Royal Commission.

"Hence, the only logical and remaining step is for the Ministers from Sabah to ask the Federal Cabinet to approve the formation of a Royal Commission similar to the commissions over the V. K. Lingham tape, the police, Anti- Corruption Agency and on judicial appointments," he said.

Having said that, he reminded the authorities that comprehensive action against illegal immigrants do not depend on a royal commission or parliamentary select committees of any sort.

Referring to SAPP's 14-point plan submitted to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Sabah Chief Minister in October 2006, Yong said:

"We have presented this many times at several meetings but to no avail.

The actions proposed in the 14-point plan do not require a royal commission, select committees or further debates.

"What the Government must show is a firm political will and more resources, manpower and logistics by bringing in the military, enhancing RELA, special operations to detain the ring leaders (or snakeheads), transfer of the Malaysian Consulate from Davao to Zamboanga and the setting up of a Philippine Consulate in Sabah," he said.

Malaysia should use more of its leverage in international bodies like Asean and the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to get the Philippine Government to cooperate, he said.

"Malaysia can also suspend the Zamboanga-Sandakan ferry service, impose bonds on incoming visitors, requiring ferry passengers to possess return tickets and step up enforcement at all levels of government," said Yong.

There are also fresh developments in the Southern Philippines to worry about, he said, adding the withdrawal of the Malaysian peace monitors from Mindanao last month is a clear indication of failure of the peace process involving the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"The weekend rumblings from Davao from freed rebel Prof. Nur Misuari over the Philippines Claim on Sabah and the re-grouping of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are matters that warrant the immediate attention of the National Security Council in Putrajaya and the Sabah State Security Committee," he said.

Tan Sri Bernard Dompok failed to get relevant agencies to give replies to hard questions on the identity card issue. Deputy president Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili’s efforts is also a disappointment when he was a federal minister in 2004.

In addition, since Parti Bersatu Sabah has returned to Barisan Nasional, Dr Maximus had been advising Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan against PBS sending in memorandums to various groups as it was tantamount to stabbing Barisan in the back again.

Obviously, Dr Maximus is stabbing the back of KadazanDusun and the rest of Sabahan by refusing to put serious efforts in pushing for solution to the illegal immigrants problem in Sabah.

Related posts:
* Sabahan will address the illegals as TUAN in future
* Sabah being neglected by the federal government





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Source: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/25/nation/21358686&sec=nation (May 25, 2008)

PBS leaders at odds over immigrant issue

KOTA KINABALU: The issue of Sabah’s illegal immigrants appears to have put Parti Bersatu Sabah leaders at odds with each other.

Outspoken PBS supreme council member Dr Chong Eng Leong wants the party to support the opposition motion for a Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants associated with Project IC or more popularly dubbed 'Project Dr M'.

Chong said that the proposal for a commission of inquiry by DAP’s Lim Kit Siang was not anti-Barisan or pro-Pakatan Rakyat but a matter of defending the sovereignty of Sabah within Malaysia.

He said that a Parliamentary Select Committee on Sabah illegal immigrants was not going to work, as a previous similar committee headed by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok failed to get relevant agencies to give replies to hard questions on the identity card issue.

He described his party’s deputy president Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili’s efforts in pushing for solutions to the illegal immigrant problem after becoming a federal minister in 2004 as a disappointment.

Chong said that Dr Maximus had blocked him from representing PBS to present memos on illegal immigrant papers to Suhakam and also the Parliamentary Select Committee on Unity between 2004 and 2006.

“Dr Maximus is only interested in self advancement,” he alleged and accused his deputy president of trying to stop Sabah MPs from voting for the Royal Commission of Inquiry motion that was disallowed by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee.

He said Dr Maximus had told him in late 2001 that once PBS returned to Barisan, the illegal immigrant problem would be solved but since becoming a minister he had been advising Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan against PBS sending in memorandums to various groups as it was tantamount to stabbing Barisan in the back again.

Source: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=57765 (May 25, 2008)

Royal panel on illegals still the best approach: Sabah DAP

Kota Kinabalu: DAP Kota Kinabalu MP Dr Hiew King Cheu said a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) is still the best approach to solve the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah.

He said contrary to Sabah MP BN Backbenchers Club chairman, Datuk Anifah Aman's belief, the Royal Commission that would come under the direct purview of the King has total authority in getting to the root of the problem affecting Sabah.

"Whereas, a Parliamentary Select Committee is under the Prime Minister and as shown during the last term, such committee was unable to function properly since it is not free to do its job," he said, Saturday.

Commenting on the statement by Anifah that he would be moving a motion at the next sitting of Parliament in June proposing for the establishment of the Parliamentary Select Committee to solve Sabah woes, particularly the illegal immigrants, Hiew said:

"He (Anifah) is going back into history because a Parliamentary Select Committee set up in the last term that was chaired by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok with DAP adviser, Lim Kit Siang as deputy chairman could not really function.

"In fact, the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah continued to worsen".

Hiew concurred with Parti Bersatu Sabah Supreme Council member Dr Chong Eng Leong that RCI was the best course of action.

"A Sabahan can be appointed as the chief of the royal inquiry so we strongly suggest that the RCI be considered instead," he said.

According to Hiew, it was also wrong for the Sabah BN MPs to say that they don't need Lim Kit Siang to voice pertinent issues concerning Sabah, especially to propose the formation of the RCI.

Hiew added that he had worked closely with Lim to get support from the MPs for the RCI but sadly it was rejected by Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee.

"As a Sabahan MP I had been lobbying the MPs in Parliament to support the motion. The Deputy Speaker (Ronald) as a Sabahan should have at least allowed the motion to be debated," he said.

Hiew said the RCI is long overdue and must be formed quickly in order to solve the problem that had been affecting Sabah for the last four decades and worsening by the day.

Very soon, illegal immigrants squatting in Sabah will no longer be called PTI (pendatang tanpa izin) or Pilak. Instead, Sabahan will address the illegal immigrants as TUAN in future.

Unofficial statistics indicate that the PTI population is exceeding the Sabah Muslim population. As such, keTUANan Melayu no longer bear any significant in Sabah. Maybe, the Malays in Semanjung Malaysia will still enjoy their Ketuanan Melayu privilege.In Sabah, it will be Ketuanan Filipin or Ketuanan Indonesia as most illegals came from these two countries. And for decades, the Barisan Nasional is not doing anything about it.

Why ? Because UMNO want to get more votes, thus MyKad were issues to those illegals as long as those PTI are willing to be a Muslim Malays. Mind you, those converted Muslim Malays are citizen of Philippines or Indonesia. They will vote for UMNO in exchange for the MyKad. Now, the Malaysianized PTI are more than the native Muslim of Sabah and the Malaysianized PTI have equal citizen rights with the native Muslim of Sabah.

Don't you think that the original Malaysian Muslim in Sabah have been marginalized. Their shares on social benefits, education, politics and economy benefits have been eroded because of the Malaysianised PTI. PTI also contribute to the rising crime rate in Sabah.

Due to votes from the Malaysianised PTI, UMNO stayed in power in Sabah but slowly, their act in fact is killing not only the local Sabahan BUT Sabahan Muslim whose ancestors and grandparents were the native sons and daughters of the Land Below the Wind. Or should I say, Land of Syabu. Yes, Land of Syabu. Syabu are brought over from Philippine and Indonesia by the PTI. The Police, Marine Police, Immigresen, GOF or even the Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) will not do anything so long as the PTI fly the UMNO flag on their boats. Clearly, the Phillipine PTI are more clever than our Malaysian enforcement authority.

It is only rights that Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Marcus Mojigoh and other leaders are now banging on the table as the PTI problems is getting to a critical stage.

Looking further, UMNO has created this PTI pest problem in Sabah and if not drastically solved, it won't be long that Sabah will be controlled by the descendants of the PTI. When that happen, PTI will over ruled UMNO. So, does Barisan Nasional want Sabah to be colonize by the Philippine or Indonesia ?

Federal Special Task Force is estimating PTI figure to be around 60,000. Unofficial figures for the PTI is about 1.5 million. Why the great difference ? As mentioned earlier, a large percentage of those PTI have been Malaysianised and given MyKad. And even if the 1.5 million is pure bullshit, why the authority let 60,000 PTI squat in Sabah ? Where are the Police and the Immigration staffs ? Don't tell me they are busy with syabu.







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Source: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=57517

Sabah illegals woe at chronic stage: PBS

Kuala Lumpur: Describing the influx of illegal immigrants into Sabah as threatening the peace and security in the State, two of its Members of Parliament (MP) have called on the Federal Government to urgently resolve the matter.

They told the Dewan Rakyat Tuesday that the problem, which had been persisting for too long with no solution in sight, had become the main worries among the people.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (BN-Keningau) likened the problem to a time bomb which could create serious implication if there were no serious steps taken to tackle the menace.

"It is understood that there have been attempts by among these illegal immigrants to apply to become armed forces recruits using fake identity cards," he said when debating the motion of thanks for the speech by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Pairin, who is also Parti Bersatu Sabah President, said the failure to tackle the problem showed there was a lapse in security surveillance at the borders as well as weaknesses in the enforcement of the law.

He said the issue had now reached a chronic stage and requiring urgent solution.

The influx of illegal immigrants had been going on in Sabah since early 70s, with the Federal Special Task Force estimating their figure to be around 60,000 at the moment.

Non-governmental organisations in Sabah claimed, however, that their number could be as high as 1.5 million people, which is almost half of Sabah's population.

Meanwhile, Puteri Umno Vice-Chief Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin (BN-Papar) called on the Government to close down or relocate the refugee camp in Kinarut, about 15km from Kota Kinabalu.

She said the camp had the potential to become the biggest "Syabu nest" in Sabah.

Rosnah also said residents living near the camp were exposed to social problems as well as health problems because of the camp's poor sanitation and lack of proper waste disposal system.

"I want all entry points into Sabah be shut off to illegal immigrants while those already in Sabah be sent back to their home countries," she said when debating the same motion.

She suggested that the Federal Government obtain the actual number of illegal immigrants in the State, including those who had been given permanent residency, and take steps to tackle the problem. - Bernama


Source: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=57427

'Ketuanan Melayu' call may lead to BN's downfall: MP

13 May, 2008

Kota Kinabalu: Young leaders of Umno, particularly in Peninsula Malaysia, should stop provoking the feelings of non-Malays by insisting on the issue of "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay supremacy) as it may lead to the downfall of the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government.

United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Vice President Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh said the persistence of these "young cowboys" in Umno is not the Malaysian way.

"This is not the way to lift the Malay race to a higher pedestal but a plain and blatant sign of arrogance that may lead to detestation by others.

"To me this is not the Malay culture that I know of. I never heard of this before," said the Putatan MP.

Speaking at the Kaamatan Festival in Kampung Duvanson in Putatan, near here, Saturday, Mojigoh said the Malays are known to be friendly and courteous but the action of certain leaders had spoilt this image.

Towards this end, he hoped Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who is also Umno President would advise these leaders not to be carried away and to stop acting arrogantly.

In the context of Sabah, he said there were claims of "over a million newly created Malays" - a new product imported from the Philippines and Indonesia.

"Imagine (if) you have to address these illegals as tuan," he said, adding that the authorities need to address the problem of illegal immigrants gaining citizenship and acquiring this Malay status through the back door.

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