Issuance of PSS can cause influx of foreigners: Star
Published on: Tuesday, September 17, 2019
By: Johan Aziz
KENINGAU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR Sabah) Vice President Robert Tawik (pic), said the government’s move to grant Sabah Temporary Special Pass (PSS) to holders of IMM13, burung-burung and census cards can cause influx of foreigners.“Such actions could make Sabah an entry point for foreigners coming from neighbouring countries and other countries because of the ‘privileges’ provided by the government with the special pass,” he said, here, on Saturday.
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Robert, who is also a Bingkor Assemblyman, asked the Government to take drastic steps to further enforce existing Immigration laws so that action taken against foreigners who came to the state illegally.
He noted that immigration laws have been influenced by politics which led to a lack of transparency in relation to the presence of foreigners and granting of citizenship and Mykad to them.
“The government’s act of providing special passes to IMM13, burung-burung and census card holders as a measure of solving the illegal immigrants’ issues which could have a negative impact on the State’s population in the future.
“In fact, I think this kind of action could invite more foreigners to enter the State illegally.
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“The government must forget about the special pass issuance for foreigners which they can renew in three years. It is absurd and unreasonable because the government’s move allows them to apply for citizenship after five or 10 years staying here,” he said.
Robert said the current KadazanDusun and Murut (KDM) leaders in the government should not only look at the positive of but also the negative side of the special pass, its impact on the law, customs, socio-economic, political and the people’s life in the country and the State.
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According to him, in terms of the law, foreigners have been illegally entering the State without valid documents and lived here for many years.
“If we look at neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, when a person stay longer against the period given by the authority, they face arrest and be deported.
“The government need to prioritise the future and welfare of the locals rather than give in to foreigners living illegally in the State.
“The Government through the Immigration Department should act decisively to send them rather than protect them for political interest.
As an independent body, he asked the Immigration Department along with other law enforcement agencies to act and send back including other foreigners living here illegally.
He said the war had ended in the Philippines and the IMM13 issuance ceased in 2013. Therefore, they must return home voluntarily or send them back.
“Let they process their documents in their country before coming back to this State. Matters on ducuments are their business and not the State’s affairs,” Robert said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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