Digest on Malaysian News

Is is real that the Immigration Department is treating the ethnic minorities from East Malaysia as non-bumiputra ?

Mahmood Adam, Immigration director-general stated that the department managed to attract about 30% non-bumiputra personnel in its latest recruitment drive. Those 30% are the non-Malays, such as the Chinese, Indian AND ethnic minorities from Sabah and Sarawak like the Iban, Bidayuh, Penan, Orang Ulu, Bajau, Kadazandusun, Murut, etc.

First, the ethnic minitories as far as Sarawak is concerned, is the pre-bumi of Sarawak. They settled in Sarawak even before the arrival of the Malays. As for Sabah, the ethnic group settled in Sabah even before the arrival of the Malays from the Brunei Sultanate (or the arrival of UMNO Malays from Semanjung).

Point 12 (of the Malaysia Formation Agreement)- The native of Sabah have equal rights as those of Malays in Malaya. Thus native of Sabah is not second class Bumiputra or Bumiputra Lain Lain.


However, going forward, we now should be treating each other as Malaysian and not bumiputra or non-bumiputra. Afterall, every rakyat is expected to contribute to the nation building regardless if you are Malay or non-Malay.

From The Star

Immigration finally gets non-bumis to join up
By SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Depart­ment scored a first recently when it attracted about 30% non-bumiputra personnel in its latest recruitment drive.

“This is the first time that any government agency has managed to attract such a big number of non-Malays,” said department director-general Datuk Mahmood Adam.

He said that of the 940 new personnel recruited, slightly more than 30% comprised Chinese, Indians and ethnic minorities from Sabah and Sarawak.

“The new personnel will be stationed along the east coast of the peninsula, Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak. In the beginning, many of them will be sent to work at the Immigration depots to get experience before being assigned to various duties.

“I am proud we have managed to attract such a huge number of non-Malays,” Mahmood told reporters after presenting the appointment letters to the personnel at the department headquarters here yesterday.

Earlier, when addressing the new recruits, Mahmood said they should preserve the image and reputation of their “parents and family members” by not indulging in corrupt practices.

The new intake would boost the numbers at the department to 11,000 personnel, which would help to enhance enforcement and control the 22 million tourists and 2.4 million foreign workers in the country.

“At present, the lack of personnel is making our work difficult. We have 240,000 people entering through Johor alone and we have over 200 entry points in the country.

“We have asked the Public Service Department for 3,000 new enforcement personnel,” he said.

On the lowering of passport fees, Mahmood said the department had completed its study on the matter and submitted it to the Government for consideration.

“The Government will decide by the year’s end. We have identified the security features we can reduce from 35 currently to five – those which are redundant, overlapping or superseded by newer technology.

“So, hopefully, by doing away with such features, we can bring down the cost of passports without jeopardising security standards,” he said.

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Introduced in March this year, the Mobile Immigration Enforcement System (MIES) costing RM9,000 each, enabled officers to immediately check the validity of the foreign workers’ passports and visas during raids.

Immigration director-general Datuk Mahmood Adam said the MIES helped speed up the process of identifying illegal immigrants carrying false documents. Illegals caught with false documents were detained, fined or deported, he said.

Mahmood Adam however did not mentioned if MIES is currently be used in the Ops Sepadu in Sabah to nab all the illegal immigrants in the state. Detailed statistics on the number of illegals caught carry false documents is also not reported.

At least 100 units of MIES was supplied to the Immigration Department.

From TheStar

New system lets Immigration teams check documents on the spot
By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY

KUALA LUMPUR: Several hundred illegals were found on-the-spot to be carrying forged work permits or had overstayed their visas by Immigration Department enforcement officers using a new hand-held reader.

Introduced in March this year, the Mobile Immigration Enforcement System (MIES) enabled officers to immediately check the validity of the foreign workers’ passports and visas during raids.

Immigration director-general Datuk Mahmood Adam said the MIES helped speed up the process of identifying illegal immigrants carrying false documents. Illegals caught with false documents were detained, fined or deported, he said.

“The MIES has been highly effective because in the past suspected illegals had to be brought back to the department to check if they had legitimate visas.

“By carrying the MIES reader, enforcement officers are able to access the database for on-the-spot checks,” he said.

The MIES is based on the biometric system which can read the MyKad, I-Kad and passport, making verification easier for enforcement teams, he said.

Mahmood said the department was also working on curbing and wiping out corruption among its staff.

“We have changed our motto to ‘Deliver with Integrity’ in our attempt to stamp out corruption. My staff must take it as their mission to exercise integrity at all times because we are a service-oriented department.”

--------------------------------------
From eKL.gov.my

Immigration Department introduces mobile computers.

Wednesday, 20 February 2008

PUTRAJAYA, 20 Feb (The Star) -- All illegal foreigners will be easily detected now with the introduction of the Mobile Immigration Enforcement System (MIES). The system has computers which can read identification cards and thumbprints and detect fake documents.

The computers cost RM9,000 each and the Government has 100 ready for enforcement units nationwide.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said yesterday Malaysia was the first country to introduce the MIES.

He said with the system, foreigners had a way to prove their legality.

“If they do not have their passports on them, their thumbprint can be the last alternative to trace their data.

“So far one million foreigners’ thumbprints have been collected using the bio-metric system,” he said, adding that it would take about another year to collect all foreigners’ thumbprints in the country.

Radzi added that police and Rela officers would also use the computers during checks.

“The MyKad can also be verified using the MIES computer,” he said, adding that fake MyKad cases could be easily traced and weeded out.

Despite having the MIES, Radzi said the existing MyKad readers in all Government departments would continue to be used.


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National Registration Department (NRD) is turning local Sabahan into foreigners and letting foreigners become citizens, claimed Wilfred Bumburing, the deputy president of United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO).

“This action by the NRD infringes the basic rights of Malaysians in Sabah and if it is not rectified, UPKO must seriously review its position in Barisan,” said Bumburing, who is member of Parliament for Tuaran.

Related posts:
* UPKO To Quit Barisan Nasional ?
* Incompetent National Registration Department

From TheStar

Upko may review position in BN over woman’s case

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Upko is threatening to review its position in Barisan Nasional if the National Registration Department (NRD) fails to rectify its mistake of registering an elderly bumiputra citizen as a permanent resident.

Upko deputy president Datuk Wilfred Bumburing said that taking away the citizenship of bumiputras and forcing them to take permanent resident status displayed incompetence of a department rigged with controversies.

He said this in reaction to the dilemma of 78-year-old Sino-Kadazan woman Yong Lee Hua @ Piang Lin who lost her identity card (IC) in May, but NRD issued her a red identity card and asked her to apply for citizenship again.

“This action by the NRD infringes on the basic rights of Malaysians in Sabah and if it is not rectified, Upko must seriously review its position in the Barisan.

“To me, this is the last straw of the mess in NRD, that is turning locals into foreigners and letting foreigners become citizens,” said Bumburing.

Yong holds a native certificate issued in 1963.

She lost her original identity card (IC) on Feb 12 and made an application for a replacement.

She was issued a red IC a few months later, with NRD officials saying that it was normal procedure.

However, the mother of seven children went back to the NRD with proof of citizenship documents.

To her shock, an official at the NRD office admitted there might have been a mistake but advised her to apply for citizenship instead of the department rectifying it.
-----------------------------
From DailyExpress News

Illegals gain citizenship; Sabahans lose theirs

Kota Kinabalu: The United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) on Friday demanded that the National Registration Department (NRD) undo its mistake of turning a Sabahan Bumiputra into a Permanent Resident.

Its Deputy President Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing said what had happened to 78-year-old Yong Lee Hua @ Piang Lin, a Sino-Kadazan, was simply outrageous and warrants Upko seriously reviewing its position in the Barisan Nasional if found to be not just an isolated case.

"How can this happen to a Malaysian citizen who was born here and holding a Native Certificate to prove her citizenship," he said.

He said that if the NRD had committed a genuine mistake, it should have reverted Yong's new status back to a Malaysian citizen right away.

"If the department had purposely committed the atrocious act, they must undo its gross mistake," he said, adding it is sending a bad signal across the nation, particularly to genuine citizens.

"Illegal immigrants can easily acquire MyKads that subsequently enable them to purchase Native Title (NT) lands.

"What is happening with the NRD? This is totally unacceptable. And if this is the tip of the iceberg, I'm afraid we cannot guarantee protection to the genuine citizens," he said.

He said if the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government is not willing to look into this matter as well as into how illegal immigrants could mysteriously acquire Malaysian Identity Cards, Upko will take up the matter and fight for the people.

"If the NRD or government has no satisfactory answer, I strongly urge Upko to seriously review its position in the BN because an identification document is a very important matter as it shows their sense of belonging."

Bumburing said if the NRD is unable to handle Yong's case, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar must intervene.

Yong's life had been turned upside down as a result of the NRD oversight and incompetence.

Her nightmare began when she lost her IC at a Supermarket at Penampang Baru on Feb. 12.

On the same day, she lodged a police report and subsequently on Feb 26, applied for a replacement IC at the NRD office in Donggongon.

After several months, she went and collected her replacement IC at the NRD office and was given a red IC.

She asked the officer why it was red and the lady officer said for senior citizens who lost their IC, the department normally replaced them with red ICs.

She didn't find anything amiss with the officer's explanation until she reached home when her children said red ICs were issued to people with Permanent Resident status.

With the help of her children, they brought the matter up with the NRD together with supporting documents such as her Native Certificate that was issued by the Native Court on Sept 24, 1963, bank books and passport.

The NRD officer admitted there could have been an error but instead of rectifying it, Yong was asked to "apply for Malaysian citizenship" which she duly complied by submitting an application form to the office on July 2, last year.

Her problem did not end there because soon after, her bank accounts at Amanah Saham Nasional and Alliance Bank were frozen making her unable to withdraw money for her daily expenses.

Fluent in Kadazan and Chinese, the mother of seven sons and one daughter can no longer travel outside the country as she could not renew her expired passport.

Strangely, she was allowed to cast her vote at Peak Nam Thong Kindergarten during the recent Mar 8 general elections using her driving license as identity document since her record in the polling list was still intact.

But her identification records at the Immigration Department, however, had completely "disappeared".

Everywhere Yong goes now, she only uses her driving license as proof of identity because she is too embarrassed with her predicament.

She now feared that her "new status" would have serious repercussion on her sons and daughter.

Resource Development and Information Technology Assistant Minister, Donald Peter Mojuntin who helped highlight Yong's case, said if it could happen to her, the children's citizenship could also be withdrawn.

"There has never been a case like this before when genuine Malaysians had their citizenship canceled. If this can happen to her, it can happen to anybody (Malaysians)," he said.

As Upko Bureau Chief for Citizenship and Security, the Moyog Assemblyman said he would be pursuing the matter with Sabah NRD Director and also with the Home Minister.

He said that for the NRD to admit their mistake and then asking Yong to reapply for citizenship is simply illogical.

-----------------------------
From DailyExpress News

'Let Sabahans head depts'

Kota Kinabalu: Both BN component PBS and opposition PKR said the case of a Sabahan Bumiputra being downgraded to that of a Permanent Resident highlights the need for both the State NRD and Immigration to be headed by Sabahans.

Parti Bersatu Sabah Chief Information officer Johnny Mositun said PBS had been calling for Sabahans to lead the two Federal agencies since they would be more familiar with problems affecting the local population.

At the same time, he said PBS had been lodging so many reports to the police and Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) and also included lists of dubious Identity Cards (ICs) issued to illegal immigrants via false Statutory Declarations.

He said PBS is baffled that the National Registration Department could conveniently do so to a genuine citizen but not to illegal immigrants holding MyKads.

"Nothing seems to be done but now we have our own citizen having her citizenship reviewed easily and judging from the news reports her plight was also taken lightly by the NRD," he said in a statement, Saturday.

Mositun, who is a Deputy Speaker, was commenting on the plight of 78-year-old Yong Lee Hua @ Piang Lin, a Sino-Kadazan who was issued with a red IC with the status of a PR when she replaced her blue IC that she lost in a supermarket in Penampang Baru last year.

It was also reported that when the woman enquired about the mix up she was asked to "apply for Malaysian citizenship", instead.

This is despite a Sijil Anak Negeri (SAN or Native Certificate) issued on Dec. 5, 1963, verifying Yong's status as a Sino-Kadazan.

"We find Yong's case as appalling and unacceptable. It reflects badly on the system of the NRD. To me the information given by Yong should have been sufficient for her to get her original blue IC back," said Mositun.

He said if it was a case of the NRD playing by the book then "it should not be difficult for the NRD to do the same to review and revoke all the Malaysian ICs that have been issued to illegal immigrants".

"We want the Government to seriously look into this and rectify the glaring weaknesses in the NRD system urgently to safeguard the interest of Sabahans better," he said.

Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah Deputy Chairperson Christina Liew also said both these posts should be replaced by Sabahans in view of what happened.

She said all Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties should also quit the coalition in protest over the manner in which genuine Malaysians in Sabah are being treated by the Department.

Liew believed what was done to Yong smacked of a hidden agenda as it is common knowledge that illegal immigrants entering Sabah through the back door can easily acquire Malaysian citizenship via the MyKad, IMM13 or PR status through authentic or dubious channels.

According to her, those illegals now in possession of the MyKad are in a privileged position such that they can secure Bumiputra status or apply for or buy NT land in Sabah.

Yong revealed her predicament at a press conference called by Resource Development and Information Technology Assistant Minister, Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin on Thursday.

Liew concurred with Mojuntin that there was no reasonable explanation from the JPN as to why Yong's citizenship was changed to the status of a PR.

It is understood that applicants for red IC normally have to wait for 9-12 months for the outcome but in Yong's case it took merely a few months.

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This is about yet another complaint on the incompetency of our National Registration Department, who like to play with red tapes with the native.

I'm sure NRD will expedite the case if it involve the Malay. Instead of sitting in the comfortable offices in Simpang Tiga and outright reject the application, why can't the officer try to solve the problem like sending their team to Ulu Baram.

The Sarawak NRD may be caution about new applications especially if they are already adults but they can outright reject the applicant. They could have investigate further and offer assistant to the applicant. Sarawak NRD is a total opposite of Sabah NRD.

Sabah NRD has been known to be over generous in registering the citizens including free registration of the illegal immigrants. Even illegal immigrants from the Philippines and Indonesia have a genuine MyKads.

Related post:
* Restoration of Sabah's rights

Extracted from: theborneopost.com/?p=33628 (Apr 06, 2008)

Plight of the ‘stateless’

SARAWAK had celebrated its 45 years of independence, and also just held a parliamentary election — two events of great significance to the people — but for Urai Usang, a 52-year-old Kenyah, they hold little pride or meaning.

Urai is among some 20 people in her longhouse at Long Apu, Ulu Baram, who are ‘stateless’ because, although born here, they do not have identity cards.

They are in such a predicament reportedly because of bureaucracy, and sheer ignorance on their part.

In 2002, Kenyah Association treasurer and member of the Longhouse JKKK (village committee), Gerard Lalo Laeng, helped bring a group of about 10 ‘stateless people’ from Long Apu to the National Registration Department (NRD) office in Miri to have their ICs made.

They brought along the necessary documents, including letters signed by their village heads and relatives (uncles and aunties) who were IC holders. The longboat trip to Miri cost more than RM500 — petrol, food and lodging — all paid for by Gerard.

A few months later, Gerard travelled down to Kuching to check on the progress of the group’s applications at the NRD office in the state capital.

But he was in for a rude shock.

“Can you bring them to Kuching because we don’t have their records. If they do not come, we cannot do anything,” the registration officer told him.

A disappointed Gerard replied that bringing the group all the way to Kuching was out of the question because being poor longhouse folks, they could not afford the fare.

Surely, the applications done in Miri should have been enough to satisfy the department’s requirements for approving the ICs, he argued.

“Why should the applications not be approved when they were supported by all the right documents such as letters signed by the ketua kampung and relatives, certifying that the applicants were born in Sarawak,” Gerard wondered.

Subsequently, he brought a group of about 10 people, together with all their relevant documents (including Urai’s) and letters chopped and signed by the ketua kampung to Long Julan, Marudi to apply for ICs.

About five months later, he made enquiries over the silence from the NRD regarding the applications.

Gerard could not understand the delay or the lack of response from the authority since he could vouch for the fact that the applicants were born in Sarawak, and have been living with him in the same kampung where they played games like football or ‘gasing’ as kids.

“Why need to ask them for interview in Kuching? Aren’t their documents, chopped and signed by their ketua kampung and relatives, genuine or proof enough?” Gerard asked.

He explained that his late parents were able to register in Marudi when the NRD launched a registration exercise through its first mobile registration unit there in the 1950s.

In the past, he noted, records were properly kept when people submitted their applications for ICs but nowadays, with all the hi-tech equipment, some people were still finding it impossible to apply despite all the relevant documents provided.

Gerard said he was deeply saddened that the ‘stateless people’ in his longhouse were unable to pursue their education and had to work as manual labourers at timber camps, return to their farms getting involved or in drug abuse or vice.

“The children cannot go to school while their parents have to work without employment benefits. Can you imgine that?”

Gerard said what surprised him was that his cousin, Jalong Langan, from Long Palai, also went to Miri to apply for his IC at almost the same time as a group of ‘stateless people’ from his (Gerard’s) longhouse, and had his MyCard approved.

Gerard said his cousin showed him his new MyCard when he (Gerard) went back to his longhouse in Long Julan recently.

He insisted he could attest to Urai being born in Sarawak as they grew up together in the same area.

“I remember we played together as children but she is now considered an Indonesian by the authorities.

“What’s even more sad is that her daughter, a fifth former at SMK Temenggong Lawai Jau in Long San (four hours by boat from Long Pelutan) in Ulu Baram, will not be able to sit for her exam because she does not have an IC.

“These people have no future and when they die, they die like kataks (frogs) because they can’t even get a death certificate,” Gerard lamented.

He said he was blamed for failing to get them their ICs. “They said I, being an educated person, was supposed to be able to help them get their ICs done in Miri but since I failed, who could they turn to for help?”

According to him, Urai’s case could be a little complicated because her poor family gave her up for adoption when she was a toddler.

Her biological father who had an IC, died when she was very young. She came from a background of poverty and illiteracy — so her father did not come to Long San — the nearest settlement — to register her birth.

Gerard said people like Urai and Elon Bun from the same longhouse and many others had made several trips — which they could ill afford — to Marudi and Long Lama to try to apply for ICs.

They had to bear the costs of food and lodging as these places were remote, unlike Miri which is accessible by timber tracks. Some areas in Marudi and Long Apu can only be reached by rivers via different routes.

Urai who studied at SK St Pius, Long San, Ulu Baram, up to only primary 4 in the 1960s, had tried unsuccessfully a few times to obtain her birth certificate and the latest was in 2002 through the ‘flying service’ to Long Apu.

A sizeable number of Sarawakians from a few longhouses in Ulu Baram, face the same fate and their predicament surfaced during the recent elections when they were not eligible to vote.

For these ‘stateless locals’, if they can be called locals, one of their basic rights is missing — an IC.

It is easy to blame poverty and ignorance on the part of these people, but in Ulu Baram, this is not always the case as bureaucracy and policy implementation can also hinder the process.

“Being poor is their death sentence when it comes to getting legally accepted as citizens through the registration of their birth right,” Gerard said.

What has happened to the NRD exercise to register all citizens wherever they may be? Are the remotest parts of the country totally inaccessible or is the administrative system in need of improvement?

Admittedly, a number of factors is involved such as poverty, lack of education or ignorance, indifference or pure bad luck on the part of ‘stateless people’.

But what have happened to efforts to solve these problems by way of dispatching mobile registration units to remote longhouses?

For starters, the authorities could consider accepting documents certified by the village chiefs when processing the applications for ICs from so called ‘stateless people’.

Many people take their ICs for granted but to those people left in the lurch by extenuating family circumstances further compounded by red tape getting an IC is a serious matter — one of being born in a country and yet living in it like a foreigner.

Jeffrey Kitingan' suggestion on demand for the restoration of Sabah's rights is justify and fare. The only thing is that, Sabah's rights has been embedded in their State Constitution. The problem is lack of implementation and practice.

Take Sabah's rights on immigration for example. Sabah has the autonomy rights on their immigration matters. This include enforcing their immigration rules on entry of illegal immigrant to the state.

Literally and practically, no one is taking the immigration problem seriously especially the Immigration Department. Illegal immigrants from the Philippines and Indonesia entered Sabah as they like. In fact, they are make good living in Sabah. Who chase those illegals ? Only the wind I guessed.

The Immigration Department, Polis, National Registrar and even with help from the Rela could have organized frequent concerted efforts to raid the illegal settlements and catch those illegal and deport them to their home country. Typical excuses normally given by the law enforcers for not conducting the raid and check operations are such as the deportation is under the Home Ministry jurisdiction, Sabah lacks holding camps for arrested illegals and the illegals are "Malaysian" holding MyKad.

Those law enforcers have became puppets and are being controlled by the Prime Minister. To the PM, those illegals are another form of "fixed deposits" for this UMNO party. Those illegals are given Malaysia MyKad and are sure to vote for UMNO to return favor to UMNO to allow them to stay in Sabah and breed more illegals children.

Related post:
* Call to revive Ministry of Special Affairs for Sabah and Sarawak


Extracted from: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=56676 (Apr 01, 2008)

Include restoration of Sabah's rights: Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan urged Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to not only call for better representation in the Federal Cabinet but also demand for the restoration of Sabah's rights.

He was glad that Sabah BN leaders were now singing the same song as him with regard to the treatment of Sabah by the Federal Government all this while.

But, he said it is time that Sabah leaders create history and do it for Sabah by demanding the restoration of Sabah's State rights and a fairer share of state revenues as well as getting a fair share in nation building as a partner rather than merely as a State in the federation.

Speaking at a Press conference, Monday, Jeffrey said recent calls by Sabah leaders of unfair policies and treatment by the Federal Government and the scrapping of the JPPS was one of the verses of the song he had been singing all this while.

"But some BN leaders consider it as irrelevant and an old song which can no longer be sung.

"We are all encouraged by the recent calls and statements by the State leaders and they should continue to be brave and press for what should be due to Sabah and not just during this time when the Prime Minister is weak and vulnerable," he said.

According to him, they should also be brave and be outspoken on various issues, even in normal times, to show their commitment and consistency.

"Why should they ask only for more representation in the Cabinet? And why should they ask only now which appears to be merely a blackmail on the Prime Minister?

"Even if the Prime Minister were to grant these wishes it would not be given sincerely. And it would not show that the Federal Government respects our rights," he said.

Jeffrey said Sabahan leaders should look at the whole situation and consider the alternative.

"This is the best time for Sabah leaders to create history by being part of the winds of change and create a new Federal Government that is fair, just, transparent and most important of all a government that would respect and restore Sabah's rights," he said.

He said Sabahans would not only be in a position to get better and more positions in the Federal Cabinet but also an opportunity to have a Second Deputy Prime Minister and an immediate increase in the oil royalty from five per cent to 20 per cent and more autonomy.

"There is no better time than to do it now. State leaders who are brave to take this action will be considered by Sabahans as heroes, for they are doing it for the greater good and interest of the State and not for their own selfish interest.

"If they do this, they will also create history by enabling a new government after 50 years," he said.

The topic for this post shall cover special affair on immigration especially on Sabah. Sabah like Sarawak when they help to form Malaysia, have special priviledges among it, is autonomy over immigration. It is written in Constitution of Sabah and Constitution of Sarawak.

Side notes: Sabah and Sarawak never joined Malaysia. These two states together with federation of Malaya states formed Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak was still under the British administration in 1957.

However, unlike Sarawak, Sabah have been relaxing on enforcing their immigration rules that resulted in the uncontrolled entry of illegals from the Philippines and Indonesia. In Sabah, those illegals immigrants are generally called "pilak" and those pilak has been sore issue all this while.

The invasion of pilak has became worst with the entry of UMNO into Sabah when their nominated ministers and officials closed their two eyes on issues pretaining to illegal immigrants. Their motives of doing so is of course to get votes to ensure that they win the majority to rule Sabah. Votes majority from the illegals. It's an open secret that those illegals was given Malaysia IC (now MyKad) to the illegals so that they would vote for UMNO.

During those time, the corrupted (and scared) Polis or Immigration officers dare not raid the illegal settlements if those illegals planted a pole with UMNO flag. How pathetic. UMNO flag made them immune to Malaysian law. Sabahan law enforcers forgot that UMNO is not the law and they in fact have taken oaf to serve and protect Malaysian citizen inclusive of Sabahan. As such, Sabahan should be protected against the menace of the pilak.

If the federal government does not intervene and assist Sabah to solve their illegal immigrants problem, it would just prove that the federal government (or UMNO) indeed still rely of votes from those imported immigrants who were given Malaysia MyKad indiscriminately by the corrupted immigrations officials as well as officials from the National Registrar.


Extracted from: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=56673 (Apr 01, 2008)

Call to revive Ministry

Kota Kinabalu: The Prime Minister has been urged to consider reviving the Ministry of Special Affairs for Sabah and Sarawak.

Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Majimbun said the Federal government should revive this portfolio which was specially created when Sabah and Sarawak joined the formation of Malaysia.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Deputy President told reporters this after visiting Inanam township Monday to thank the constituents for their support in the recent general elections.

"In the past we had a Special Affairs Ministry to look after the interests of Sabah and Sarawak at federal level. But now it is put under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry," said Eric.

"Although the role of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry is to provide development for the whole country I see no concentration is given to Sabah and Sarawak," he said.

"Why don't we revive this Ministry (special affairs) because these two states are too big. Sarawak alone is bigger than the peninsula. I think they (Federal) need to view this seriously," he said.

The MP also raised concerns over immigration control in the State which he claimed are too relaxed nowadays.

"I think the State Government should tighten its control over immigration because under the Constitution Sabah has autonomy over immigration which was agreed upon we joined the Federation," he said.

He also urged the State Government to seriously look into the perennial cases of illegal immigrants obtaining the MyKad easily in Sabah which if left unchecked could pose a serious threat to security.

"I know there are lots of suspected illegal immigrants operating their businesses in the Inanam bazaar ground but we cannot do anything because they have the permits and possess genuine MyKads," he said.

"As a local I think most of us know how to distinguish between a local and a foreigner based on their culture, lifestyle and accent. I think it is high time the State Government does something to really scrutinise the suspected foreigners who have obtained genuine MyKads," Eric said.

He also urged the Federal Government to look into the predicament of Chinese vernacular and mission schools in the State saying most are suffering from lack of financial support.

"Since the Prime Minister is coming (to Sabah) I strongly feel that this is the time we have to highlight all these pertinent issues to him," he said.