Datuk Liew Vui Keong
SANDAKAN: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong has denied the allegation of facilitating the issuance of fake MyKad through the ‘Project IC’ during the Public Complaints Programme held together with the Batu Sapi Rakyat Service Centre at Karamunting Flat here on Sunday.
The Batu Sapi Member of Parliament said the report by SabahKini2.com which claimed that there were complainants in the programme who acquired old identity cards through ‘Project IC’ but had yet to receive their MyKad was not true.
He said in fact, a report had been lodged with the police and relevant agencies against SabahKini2.com for disseminating false news and creating fears amongst the locals.
“It is most irresponsible for the news portal to have to resort to such underhanded tactics to gain cheap publicity. The damage done to the Ministry under my purview is very serious and stern action will have to be taken against the portal to prevent it from reporting false news in the future calculated to confuse the people,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Liew said the application form as claimed by SabahKini2.com was not valid and it was not even signed by any of the officers present.
“The accusations, which have led the rakyat to believe that Parti Warisan is actively promoting ‘Project IC’ in Batu Sapi is also baseless and part of a ‘cheap political game’,” he said.
He said the objective of the programme was to assist the people in tackling grouses related to dealings with government departments as well as agencies.
“Our role was merely to advise the people withy regard to their issues and refer them to the related government departments and agencies. I do not have the power to approve any application for IC. Indeed, the government is serious about solving the perennial problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah,” Liew said.
He added, during the programme, they received a total of 476 reports.
A total of nine government departments and agencies were present during the programme which included the Sandakan Water Department, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, Sandakan District Police Station, Sandakan Immigration Department, Sandakan Health Department, National Registration Department, Sandakan Municipal Council, Public Works Department and Sandakan Fire and Rescue Department. — Bernama