Mass deportations from end Feb
Published on: Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah will deport illegal immigrants from the Philippines in the thousands using the Malaysian Royal Navy assets end of February.Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said this is in line with an agreement reached between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.Najib had announced the deal with Duterte last November to ship back Filipinos who have illegally made Sabah their home.
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He had also said that the President extended his cooperation and that Malaysia was willing to loan its naval ships to deport the illegals if the Philippines did not have enough vessels to do so.The Prime Minister had also said that the deportation centres in Sabah had exceeded their capacity with more than 7,000 illegals inside.Reporting on the agreement, a news report in the Philippines stated that both countries "will not avail clemency."Musa, when announcing this after chairing the State Security Working Committee, Tuesday, said the committee is confident that the decision will uplift the wellbeing of the people.
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The decision was made to accomplish a win-win situation that takes into account the need to develop the local economy while at the same time place importance on security.He also said it was in line with the Government's aspiration to ensure continued economic growth and greater security for Sabahans.
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He added that the committee also decided that the process of deporting illegal immigrants via the Sandakan Port to Zamboanga in the Philippines be simplified in line with the stand of the State Illegal Immigrants Management Main Committee to overcome their influx into Sabah.In relation to this, he said the implementation of activities to deport illegal immigrants through Sandakan to Zamboangan will also be on status quo. The State Security Working Committee also decided to lift the suspension on transshipment and normal trade (import and export of goods) activities starting Feb. 1.Musa said the committee's decision was made after an in-depth study on measures taken to strengthen the security in the State, particularly in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) that were decided on 6 April 2016. "The committee has studied all views, complaints, problems and impacts resulting from the implementation of the security strengthening measures in line with the eight action plan decided on 6 April 2016," he said.Musa had announced then that the State Cabinet had suspended and frozen trading activities involving transshipment and trading of petroleum and gas in the Esszone with immediate effect.He said the committee has taken steps by setting regulations for transshipment activities including the handling and managing of the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security Complex (CIQS) in Tawau and Kudat to Kompleks Kastam, Imigresen, Kuarantin dan Keselamatan (CIQS) strengthen the implementation of enforcement activities by security agencies in line with the aim to develop the State economy and uplift the people's wellbeing. "The committee is compassionate and listens to the pulse of the people concerning the economic problems faced by traders including fishermen and also the shortage of fish supply that has raised the cost of living of the people in general," said Musa.He said, however, that the lifting of the suspension has to comply with regulations issued by the State Security Working Committee to improving transshipment activities, and that application to operate transshipment must be forwarded to the State National Security Council. The Chief Minister also said that the CIQS in Kudat will resume operation from 1 February for the Kudat to Palawan in the Philippines route in line with its Standard Operating Procedure which must be complied with by all agencies and parties involved.The proposed ferry services between Kudat and Palawan were postponed last year.On ban of pump boats in the State, Musa said the committee decided to maintain the status quo whereby only citizens having valid identity card are allowed to use and own them.Non-citizens who use and own pump boats will be dealt with sternly by the security agencies, he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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