Legalising foreign workers a bad idea: Sabah PAS

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah PAS is strongly opposed to the suggestion by State Inspector-General of Projects Datuk Amir Kahar Tun Mustapha for Sabah to consider legalising foreign workers in Sabah to help overcome the shortage of labourers, particularly in the construction industry."If the State Government agrees to that suggestion and implements it, our effort to battle the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah will be useless. The Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants had discovered that one of the reasons for the influx of illegals in Sabah was economic motivation," said Sabah PAS deputy commissioner II, Hamid Ismail.

He said on page 255 of the RCI report, it was stated that "there is ample evidence to establish that there was a huge influx of illegal immigrants to Sabah from 1978 onwards essentially for economic reasons."

The Commission finally concluded on page 260 of the report that "Given the facts, assumptions and circumstances as stated above, there can be no doubts that the main factor contributing to the huge influx of illegal immigrants to Sabah has been the economic motivation."

"By legalising the illegal immigrants, instead of solving the problem, we are strengthening it. In other words, we are moving backwards," said Hamid in a statement, Tuesday.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Sabah revenue hits RM6.97 billion: Hajiji says GRS State Government may see full term

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government continued its momentum in managing the economy in line with the commitment and spirit of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) when it posted record high state revenue of RM6.973 billion last year.

"We are giving those illegal immigrants who are already here a place in our society. The move will also encourage more illegals to come here. In the end, it is our state and the Sabahans that suffer. Thus, the suggestion should be rejected.

"I notice from Amir Kahar's statement that he mentioned visiting many developers and contractors who voiced out their grouses on the difficulty to hire labourers to complete their projects on schedule.

"As a result, he said, these developers and contractors had to hire foreign workers mostly from neighbouring countries, some of who are working here illegally.

"With respect, I suggest Amir lodge a police report about the employment of illegal foreign workers.

"It is his duty as a Sabahan to report to the authorities about that criminal act. By not doing so, he is not helping the State's effort in flushing the illegals from this State," he said.

Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.

Daily Express Malaysia

Met at his Raya open house at the Astana residence of the late Tun Mustapha Harun in Kudat, Amir was reported as saying that the call was necessary to ensure development projects, whether by the government or private sector would not be affected.

He also said that locals were not interested to work in the sector resulting in developers and contractors having no other choice but to higher foreigners, some of whom were undocumented.

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00