Immigration power is proof Sabah rights intact
Published on: Sunday, March 15, 2015
Hayati DzulkifliPUTATAN: Sabah's special immigration power to bar the entry of any individual suspected of jeopardising unity, is proof that Sabah's rights are intact.Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin (pic) said the State Government has the power to decide and prohibit any individual who could damage the existing peace loving society in Sabah.
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"The special power to ban the entry of dubious individuals into Sabah has been the State Government's right."Apart from this immigration right, Sabah also has rights over its land and water supply, among others, which prove that Sabah rights are secured," Yahya, who is also Umno Putatan Divisional Chief, told reporters after officiating annual meetings of 138 Umno Putatan branches at a multipurpose hall here on Friday.On Wednesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Home Ministry (KDN) had never issued any directive to the Immigration Departments of Sabah and Sarawak on prohibiting foreigners and peninsula residents from entering the two states. He said this came under the jurisdiction of the authorities in Sabah and Sarawak according to Section 65 of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
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Dr. Ahmad Zahid said this in a written reply Seputeh MP Teresa Kok from DAP in Parliament on March 11.Last month, Kok was reported to have been prohibited from entering Sabah without any reason as soon as she arrived at the airport in Sandakan.
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Former Bar Council President Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan was also barred from entering Sabah last year and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice-President Tian Chua was stopped from entering Sabah twice in 2013 and last year.Yahya who is also Sabah Umno Secretary, meanwhile, called on party members at all levels to regularly check and update their databases on members who have registered as voters and not to do it at the last minute."They must give serious attention to updating their databases to ensure their members who registered as voters cast ballots at their respective district polling stations."If there were changes on the voters' polling stations, then the onus is on the members especially at the division level to do the necessary checking on why such change occurred and whether the voters cum party members are aware of such changes," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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