Sabah can send illegals back if serious, insists Jeffrey
Published on: Wednesday, June 03, 2020
Kota Kinabalu: Star Sabah President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (pic) said it is unbecoming of former Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman to challenge him to deport illegal immigrants (Pati) in Sabah when he (Azis) is still part of the Government which has the power to do so.He said it shows how inconsistent he is as previously he wanted to give Temporary Sabah Pass (PSS) with unlimited renewal to illegals in Sabah.ADVERTISEMENT
“I am surprised because he was previously a Deputy Home Minister and he is still part of the ruling State Government. The Chief Minister, who is his party’s President, is still the State Security Council Chairman where under him is the Immigration Department and National Registration Department.
“So I dare him back. The State Government should send the Patis in Sabah back. Use the State Government power,” he said. Mohd Azis had challenged Jeffrey to deport all stateless people in Sabah just as what he had been fighting for when he was still in the opposition.
“Jeffrey can work with Deputy Home Minister Jonathan Yasin to send these people home. Now is the time for Jeffrey to carry out his responsibility,” he had said, adding that the previous government had explained the main difficulty was that countries supposed to accept them refused to do so.
He said the problem arose when the second and third generation of refugees who came to Sabah in the 1960s became stateless people.ADVERTISEMENT
“These people became a problem as countries like the Philippines refused to accept them. That is why the Warisan-led government decided to continue with introduction of the Sabah Resident Pass which was mooted by the Barisan Nasional (BN) but under a new name, Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS),” he said. However, he said, the proposed PSS was cancelled due to objections from leaders like Jeffrey.
Dr Jeffrey said what he is doing is raise the grouses of the people who want the Pati problem in Sabah dealt with, which is why he proposed a forum (on illegal immigrants in Sabah) after the MCO (Movement Control Order) is lifted.
ADVERTISEMENT
“After the forum, we will sent all the feedback to the Government, to the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Ministry, where further action can be taken,” he said. “Don’t politicise the forum. If you want we can collaborate. We discuss together how to settle the problem.”
Dr Jeffrey said although he is Deputy Tourism, Art and Culture Minister which has no power over illegals, he has right to propose being a member of the ruling Federal Government.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
“I want similar action as being done in the peninsula done in Sabah,” he said. Dr Jeffrey also pledged his support to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to remain as the Prime Minister
“Star Sabah fully support Muhyiddin as the Prime Minister. We support his actions in handling the Covid-19 and are confident that all Malaysians also support him,” he said.