PSS will be Projek IC 2.0 with serious implications: Najib
Published on: Sunday, January 19, 2020
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
PAPAR: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak warned that the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) planned for implementation in June may pave the way for a Projek IC 2.0 in the State.
He said for this reason alone it should continue to be opposed it as it carries serious political and security implications for genuine Sabahans. He provided several reasons.
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He said it (Projek IC 2.0) can be done because the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah did confirm the existence of a Projek IC (1.0) in the past which led to an untold number of foreigners now holding Malaysian documents.
Hence, Najib does not reject the possibility that Projek IC 2.0 could also be implemented through PSS which would further marginalise the KadazanDusun-Murut community.
He said PSS would jeopardise and destroy the future of Sabahans as its implementation has huge negative impact on sovereignty and rights of the people in Sabah.
“The children of PSS holders will automatically get Malaysian citizenship which means in the long run these children will be Malaysians in Sabah. There is also the possibility of issuing MyKads under IC Project 2.0 which will impose consequences and for the children eventually to get the Malaysian IC.
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“Another one is that implementation of PSS will open the eyes of their friends or relatives in the Philippines who may want to come to Sabah soon when they see how easy it is to get the PSS document,” he said.
Najib said there is also fear of its (PSS) implication on the security and a possibility that Tanduo 2.0 (intrusion of militants into Tanduo, Lahad Datu) will happen where smuggling of weapons or armed groups could be smuggled into Sabah that could pose implications to national sovereignty and security of Sabah and the people.
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“On the political aspect, once they (children of PSS holders) have Malaysian citizenship, automatically they can become voters and through time they will dominate the political landscape of Sabah while the KadazanDusunMurut (KDM) people will become a minority group in the State,” he said.
He also said the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government had no such plans – as had been suggested by some quarters – to implement the Resident Pass or Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) and that it was merely a proposal by the Technical Committee and Main Committee on management of illegal immigrants in Sabah.
Najib was responding to reporters’ questions as to whether the Federal Cabinet under BN would have approved PSS if was brought to it for consideration.
He confirmed the explanation on the matter by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who was Chairman of the Technical Committee.
“If Pakatan Harapan and Warisan can cancel other projects I am sure it is not impossible for them to also cancel PSS if they have the intention to do so,” he said.
Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who co-chaired the Main Committee with former Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman and former Parti Bersatu Sabah President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan cum the Technical Committee on management of illegal immigrants Chairman had also denied that PSS was included in the recommendations of Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah that was issued in December, 2014.
However, he admitted there was a proposal for a Resident Pass.
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