PENAMPANG: The setting up of a Filipino Consulate in Sabah should be done as it is long overdue.
“It will go a long way to easing the problems faced by Filipinos in the state,” said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
The Penampang member of parliament said this when asked to comment on the proposal to set up a Filipino Consulate in Sabah.
Speaking to reporters at the Pusat Cemerlang P174 Penampang here yesterday, Dompok who is also United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut (UPKO) president pointed out that the Philippines, like Indonesia, is one of Sabah’s closest neighbours.
Indonesia, he said, had long established their Consulate in Sabah which has facilitated a lot towards easing the difficulties of their nationals going into and from with matters such as travel documents.
“In the case of the Filipinos, they do not have such facility. If indeed they set up (the Consulate), I would certainly be very happy because this means that a lot of things can be regulated.
“It has been announced several times but nothing has been done so I hope this announcement is the final one,” he added.