Shafie declaring open the party’s congress at the Sabah Cultural Centre in Penampang on Sunday together with other Warisan leaders.
PENAMPANG: The Sabah government does not have the authority to issue identity cards and passports to any individual, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
“The Sabah government has not and does not issue ICs to illegal immigrants. It does not have the authority to issue ICs to any individuals… Only the federal National Registration Department (NRD) has the authority to issue ICs (to those who qualified). The same with passports, only the Federal Immigration Department has the authority to issue the identification document to an individual.
“You can ask Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin if I have the authority or not? Ask him if I have issued (IC) or not?” he said.
Shafie who is also the president of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) said this in his President’s Policy Speech at the Warisan Annual General Assembly 2018/2019 here yesterday.
He made the comment after allegations were made by certain parties that the Sabah government under Warisan had issued identification documents to illegal immigrants (PATI).
Shafie also said it is not the number of members a party has that will ensure its success and relevancy.
He reminded the delegates that it is their values and desire to serve the rakyat that will make that happen.
“There is no point having lots of members if the fighthing spirit is not noble … if the desire to serve the people is not sincere,” he said.
Shafie pointed out that a party, even though it does not have many members, will still win an election if the people want it to. This is because it has won the hearts of the people through its service to the rakyat, he added.
“Therefore Warisan must practice positivity and serve the people with sincerity and honesty,” he said.
Money is not the rakyat’s yardstick, neither are ministerial nor party posts, he stressed and reminded party members that a party post does not guarantee the person will be a candidate in the general election.
Shafie, who is also the Semporna Member of Parliament, said time is needed to implement changes promised.
“I know the rakyat’s expectations are high and it is not easy for a government that is barely one year old to make all their hopes come true but we will do the best we can,” he added.
Shafie also reminded party members to be united as disharmony will weaken the party and its struggles.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Jaujan Sambakong told reporters that Shafie’s policy speech was quite clear in addressing all issues connected to the party.
He said the accusations made by certain parties that Warisan had issued identification documents to PATI were not true.