Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan
PENAMPANG: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) hopes the recommendations to be made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants (PTIs) in Sabah will put an end to the PTIs issue in the State.
The RCI’s investigation report is due to be finalised and will be made known by the end of the year, said PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is also the deputy chief minister, in his policy speech during the PBS’ 28th Annual Delegates Congress yesterday.
He expressed his confidence that the commission will consider the input of all the 211 witnesses who have testified during the hearing. In his speech, he also mentioned that the hearing had been halted due to the foreign intrusion of the armed group who claimed to be the followers of Sultan Sulu last February in Lahad Datu.
The foreign intrusion of the group was allegedly assisted by PTIs in Sabah and was proved that the incessant worries of the people of Sabah on the widespread existence of PTIs and their ability to jeopardise the peace had been well founded, he said.
Pairin then called on the commission to make brave and holistic recommendations that will address the issue. He also gave his assurance to the people of Sabah that PBS shall render all its support to the recommendations made and will ensure the relevant agencies act on them.
“Although this might require drastic actions, but we have to be ready to do anything to address the PTIs problems in Sabah,” he said.
He added that failure to address the issue may affect the sovereignty of Sabah and Malaysia.
Additionally, it may also reduce the people’s support to Barisan Nasional (BN) as they will feel that the PTIs issue had been ignored. “I urge the Federal Government to adopt the recommendations made and have the political will to take immediate and effective actions, including strict enforcement of the law to address the issue.”