KOTA KINABALU: United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (Upko) deputy president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred M Bumburing has expressed his support to the wish of the party’s president to discuss the setting up of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the extraordinary increase in Sabah’s population with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Tuaran member of parliament said that Upko leaders and members all fully supported Tan Sri Bernard G Dompok in wanting to meet up with Najib to bring up the issue which is believed to be connected to the presence of illegal immigrants and the dubious issuance of Malaysian identity cards to non-deserving foreigners in Sabah.
“I, and the entire Upko members and leaders at all levels fully, support the intention of our president to meet the Prime Minister over the issue of setting up the RCI in order to get to the bottom of this perennial problem which is directly or indirectly affecting the social structure of the people of Sabah, especially genuine Sabahans.
“We also support any action or decisions that will be taken by Tan Sri Bernard Dompok in the name of Upko should the Prime Minister and the Federal Government fail to take any positive and constructive measures in the setting up the RCI as demanded and requested by Upko,” he said.
“We are now fed up with various statements and claims made by the Federal Government, including those made by various heads of federal government departments denying the existence of illegal immigrants who have obtained MyKads through dubious means,” Bumburing said.
These issues, according to him, have been brought up so many times in Parliament and a memorandum to that effect has been submitted to the Home Ministry.
He added that several books had been authored and printed and in circulation providing ample proof on the existence of MyKads issued to dubious citizens.
“These MyKad holders are even found in our electoral rolls.
“I totally agree with our president that it would be pointless for us to be part of the Federal Cabinet and being part of the government in place if the main core struggle of our party, being a member of the ruling government, is not even given any due consideration, let alone take any action plan to address this issue. How would we be able to face the electorate in the next general election if their grievances are not addressed positively? “We, as representatives of the people and the voice of the people, have been asked by the Prime Minister to turun padang(go to the ground) and to feel the people’s pulse. Indeed, we are feeling the people’s pulse alright; and it is now beating at the rate faster than we can imagine. The call for the setting up of RCI on this matter is now being brought up by other Barisan Nasional components party as well, not to mention that this issue has been and is the battle cry of the opposition political parties.
“I therefore urge the Prime Minister to respond positively to this call now before we are taught a political lesson by the electorate in the next general election,” Bumburing stressed.