KOTA KINABALU: Illegal immigrants will continue to be a major issue for Malaysia as people from neighbouring countries will continue to come into the country in search of better economic opportunities.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed said Malaysia is also blessed with political and social stability, which attracts many foreigners to make Malaysia their home.
“Today we can double our population because some few million Indian and Chinese would like to migrate to Malaysia,” he said, when testifying before the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Immigrants here yesterday.
Dr Mahathir, who was asked to comment on the influx of Filipinos in Sabah, also said Malaysia has a considerably lenient policy on immigrants.
“Some of them may still think that Sabah is part of the Philippines so they can send 200 people to intrude us.
“That is their mistake, that is their perception. But there are a lot of people in the Philippines, if given the choice, would come to Sabah, because Sabah is much more peaceful, the opportunities here are much greater.
“So, they will (continue to) come here,” he said.
To a question from the Sabah Law Association, Dr Mahathir maintained that the policy of the government was that immigrants should be granted citizenship according to the law and the Constitution.
He explained also that the Constitution of Malaysia did not state coming into the country legally as a pre-requisite for applying for citizenship.
He said the law only provided that immigrants who have stayed in the country for certain period of time, have learned the national language, and met certain other requirements are eligible to apply.
“If you like, you could give them citizenship.
“If you look as if illegal immigrants can get citizenship, that is the opinion of the officer concerned,” he said.