250,000 illegals in Sabah
Published on: Wednesday, December 17, 2014
PAPAR: There are an estimated 700,000 non-locals in the State, comprising both illegals and those with valid documents and of whom some 250,000 are illegal immigrants (PTIs), said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi."The latest census from the National Registration Department (NRD) from 2010 up to October this year showed that a total of 2.511 million people in Sabah are Malaysians."However the total population in Sabah is 3.2 million, including foreigners who have proper and valid documents to work and stay here and the PTIs.
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"Therefore, 700,000 are foreigners but not all are PTIs as some have been given permission in the form of work passes and residence, among others, to work and stay.As for the 250,000 illegals, follow-up actions would be carried out from time to time to flush them out, he told a press conference after a working visit to the Temporary Detention Centre in Kimanis, Tuesday.In regard to government action, he said 401,000 PTIs throughout Malaysia were deported since 1990. As for Sabah this year alone, a total of 17,434 PTI have been deported."We only have an estimation of 250,000 to be PTI who are still in Sabah.
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"In addition, there is also a negative perception that people tend to judge foreigners they see as PTI … this is what needs to be changed because not all foreigners in the State have entered the country, and staying or working here illegally as they do have valid documents," he said.Dr Ahmad Zahid said it was necessary to state those figures so as to avoid further confusion because there was manipulation by certain politicians and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that claimed Sabah's population was more than Sarawak's in terms of citizenship.
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He said Sarawak's population is 2.6 million comprising Malaysians while 2.511 million people in Sabah are Malaysians with national identity cards.Commenting on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah, Dr Ahmad Zahid said there is no "Project IC" in Sabah."What's important is that there is no 'Project IC' as a plan either done by the National Registration Department (NRD) directly or indirectly or by any either department or agencies under the government."However there are actions done by individuals either inside or outside the NRD at that time and legal actions have been taken against 94 people under the Internal Security Act (ISA), before the RCI was formed."In other words, proactive actions have been carried out to tackle the crucial matter by the government," he said.He urged all quarters to remain calm and have an open mind for the Home Ministry (KDN), Federal and State governments to sincerely assist and resolve problems related to the issue of PTI in Sabah.Zahid also announced the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Permanent Committee and Working Committee that would be set up following the report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah earlier this month.He said the Permanent Committee would be jointly chaired by him and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman while joint secretaries to the committee will be the State Secretary and Federal State Secretary."There was a meeting between the Home Ministry and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and the State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman today."We have discussed realising the Permanent Committee jointly chaired by me and Musa while Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan will chair the Working Committee."We have plans for the Permanent Committee to have at least three meetings a year but for the Working Committee, it would be up to them based on their requirement. If they need to have meetings more often, then the Committee is allowed to do so," he said.For the Working Committee, there are five ToRs namely:@ Scrutinise and study the RCI's findings and its issues for the purpose of future improvement.@ Study public feedback and complaints as well as opinions from forums and consultations on the management of foreigners in Sabah,@ Study implementation on the management of foreigners in Sabah,@ Submitting recommendations on the position of foreigners based on existing laws and regulations,@ Preparing an action plan to resolve the problems of foreigners in terms of social, economy, security and other aspects.The Working committee would comprise the Home Ministry, Immigration Department, National Registration Department (NRD), Human Resource Department, National Security Council (NSC), Chief Minister's Department, Sabah Federal Taskforce, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), Police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Sabah Ports Authority, State Attorney General, and relevant agencies.For the permanent committee chaired jointly by the Home Minister and Chief Minister, there are three ToRs namely:@ Study all recommendations and proposals submitted by the Working Committee for further improvements.@ Recognise and verify those recommendations and proposal to be discussed and considered in the State and Federal Cabinets for implementation.@ Monitor implementation of the Cabinet's decisions over the recommendations and proposals.Members of the permanent committee are the Home Ministry Secretary General, Human Resource Ministry Secretary General, academicians, non governmental organisations, Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), NSC, Attorney General's Chambers, Finance Ministry, Election Commission and Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission.Also included in the permanent committee are the Home Ministry, Immigration Director General, NRD Director General, Foreign Ministry, Education Ministry, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, National Unity and Integration Department, Chief Minister's Department, Esscom, and Rural and Regional Development Ministry.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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