KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is studying a proposal from the Independent Monitoring and Action Committee (IMAC) on the RCI Report on measures needed to be taken towards effectively addressing the illegal immigrant problem and issues of dubious MyKad and ineligible voters in Sabah.
Pairin, who chairs the Technical Committee on Immigrant Management which was set up following the lengthy RCI probe into the influx of undocumented foreigners in the State, received the proposal by hand after meeting with the Independent Committee yesterday.
“I will study the proposal and make the necessary recommendation to the Main Committee (on Migrant Management Secretariat) as well as the Federal Cabinet,” he said this to reporters after the meeting at State Assembly building yesterday.
The two-page proposal paper highlighted the need for a non-restrictive Terms of Reference (TOR) for Pairin’s committee and for it to be able to work based on views and feedback from the people on the ground, instead of just acting on directive from the top chain of command.
In this regard, the Independent Committee, based on public response, proposed for additional TOR and actions to be considered by the secretariat.
“This includes cleaning up the electoral rolls by weeding out all the names of unqualified ‘voters’ who have been registered using illegal ICs or genuine ICs that were dubiously given, including ICs that were obtained using false declarations; and to allow political parties and NGOs to monitor the cleaning up process by the Election Commission,” said Pairin.
It was also proposed that effort be taken to scrutinize and identify all dubious ICs and MyKads that have been issued to unqualified foreigners based on their false declarations and information, including some 20,000 numbers mentioned in the RCI Report.
IMAC comprises three political parties and 21 NGOs from Sabah set up to assist Pairin’s committee and other authorities in solving the illegal immigrant issues.
“They also proposed for the issuance of Sabah IC to Sabahans and genuine Malaysians who are permanent residents in Sabah; which they suggested be done by setting up a Sabah Registration Department under a new Sabah Registration Enactment.
“Also to investigate and prosecute any culprits who have been implicated in the RCI Report as being involved in the Project IC and any other illegal issuance of citizenship documents to illegals and other unqualified foreigners.
“That the Federal government make available to the public all record of proceedings of the RCI and the exhibits, memorandum and submissions by witnesses. That a special session of the Sabah Legislative Assembly and Parliament be convened to debate the RCI Report, its findings and recommendations,” said Pairin, as he read out the proposal paper.
The proposal, co-signed by 12 people mostly representing opposition political parties, also stated that IMAC would extend its full cooperation and work with Pairin’s committee in finding the final solutions to the long-standing problem.