Birth certs to stateless kids non-issue: YB
Published on: Wednesday, November 12, 2014
.jpg "Birth certs to stateless kids non-issue: YB")
KOTA KINABALU: Bongawan assemblyman Mohamad bin Alamin said the issuance of birth certificate to children of non-citizen parents is a non-issue and should not be politicised.He said existing laws on the issue have clearly explained sufficient provisions, as stipulated in Article 123 of the Sabah Birth and Death Registration Ordinance 1951 and Section 7 of the Malaysia Birth and Death Registration Act 1951."These laws stated that a child born in Malaysia with either one parent is a Malaysian or either one or both parents having at least a Permanent Resident (PR) status, then the child is eligible for citizenship.
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"This rule has been put in practice since pre-independence and in line with the 'I Belong Campaign' by the United Nation (UN) Refugee Commission, which calls for all nations to play their role in addressing the problem of stateless person worldwide," he said.Mohamad, who is also Sabah Native Affairs Council (MHEANS) President, said this when debating the proposed State Budget 2015 at the State Legislative Assembly here on Monday.Due to the anxiety of Sabah people on the issuance of birth certificates to stateless children, he said he agrees if there were efforts to re-look into the existing provisions, which he believed the State Government would consider. In another development, Mohamad said efforts should be intensified in providing basic infrastructures in Bongawan that is also connecting Kota Kinabalu and Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei to allow the locals to tap new economic opportunities as Bongawan is situated in the middle of corridor dubbed as 'The Golden Route'.
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Towards this, he has proposed that Bongawan be developed as a transit destination for the State Railways for tour packages where the tourists could stop for 30 minutes to patronise the Tamu market in Bongawan every Saturday that would make the package look more attractive to foreign tourists.He also proposed that the State Government upgraded the train station in Bongawan township which is an alternative public transport for the locals that is cheaper and popular among those who are working at Kota Kinabalu.
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"More safety features need to be put up along Papar-Kimanis-Bongawan road to cater the increasing volume of vehicles plying the route daily. "The route is becoming congested especially during peak hours especially along the roads near the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) in Kimanis and the Petronas Kimanis Training Centre," he said.Mohamad also called on relevant departments to take drastic measure to increase safety level along the route especially at hot spots where fatal accidents seem to be rising.Among the hot spots, he said are those at main intersections off Mile 30, a junction to Kimanis Power Plant and SOGT, an exit to Pekan Lama Kimanis, along the stretch in front of Rancangan Borneo Samudera Kimanis and a junction heading to Kampung Nyaris- Nyaris.To counter claims by the opposition that Sabah is often being marginalised in terms of getting distribution of funds when the Federal Government is reaping more from the State's revenue, Mohamad said the Federal Government has channeled a total of RM81.16 billion to Sabah in various development allocations for the past seven years, from 2006 until last year.Within the same period, he said Sabah has been getting five per cent oil royalties from Petronas totaling RM5.84 billion and for the past seven years, the amount was RM23.37 billion, which was lesser than what Sabah has been getting for the same period, accounted at RM81.16 billion.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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