Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: The state government is firm on its stand that it will not relax the rules for Sabahans entering Sarawak, the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) was told today.
Assistant Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had never come out with any statement that gave free entry to Sabahans.
“The present arrangement for entry rules to Sarawak still stands,” he said in response to a question from Ali Biju (PH-Krian) on the second day of the assembly’s sitting.
Ali had asked what was the state government’s policy towards the suggestion of Sabahans entering Sarawak freely.
Sagah also stressed that the relaxation of entry rules to the state cannot be implemented without thorough studies and consideration of social and geopolitical factors, including refugees and illegal immigrants.
The free entry of Sabahans into Sarawak became a hot topic after Abang Johari had reportedly mentioned this when interviewed by the press in Kota Kinabalu last month.
However, the Chief Minister’s Office had refuted this, and clarified that he did not suggest relaxing the rules for Sabahans to enter Sarawak.
“In this regard, this office wishes to clarify that what the Chief Minister said in response to a reporter’s question in Kota Kinabalu recently did not in any way suggest that such a relaxation would be implemented without thorough and careful consideration of the social and geopolitical conditions, including problems of refugees,” the office said in a brief statement.
It also pointed out that “the Chief Minister clearly stated that the present arrangement still stands”.