‘Not IMM13 but send them back’
Published on: Tuesday, June 23, 2020
RANAU: Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri) rejects the planned issuance of IMM13 pass to replace 136,000 dubious IMM13 documents, kad burung-burung and kad banci which would reclassify the illegals as refugees.Its President Datuk Henrynus Amin (pic) said the issuance of IMM13 to Filipino illegals claiming to be refugees will set a dangerous precedence with far reaching consequences to the security of the state.
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In fact, he said, the blanket approval of IMM13 pass to 136,000 or possibly up to 600,000 Filipino illegals is a serious breach of Federal security obligation to Sabah.
He said the people of Sabah expect the Federal Government to fulfil its security obligation to Sabah as provided for under the Malaysia Agreement and the Federal Constitution.
He said the huge presence of transient population in Sabah is an existential threat to the future well being of the people of Sabah.
“The Federal Government should fulfil its fiduciary duty to protect the people of Sabah from the huge foreign demographic invasion, which will fundamentally change the political demography of the state,” he said.
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He reminded the Federal Government that Sabah independence forefathers had agreed to the formation of Malayia solely on security concern, not economics.
For that matter, he said the Federal Government must be held fully accountable for the huge presence of Filipino refugees and illegals in Sabah.
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“Contrary to claim, IMM13 do not facilitate repatriation of these Filipino illegals to their country of origins. It is in fact a legal document intended to exempt Filipino illegals and their dependents from the strict requirements of immigration laws,” he said in a statement.
He said refugees with IMM13 pass will enjoy state protection and the privileges to stay, work, trade, get married and start a family, send childen to government schools and have free access to government hospitals.
“Strictly speaking, Filipino illegals who arrived after 1980s are essentially economic refugees and hence, do not qualify to be given IMM13 pass or refugee status.
He said, Anak Negeri therefore is seriously concerned with the Home Ministry’s IMM13 proposal, which will trigger deep distrust of the Federal Government.
“Anak Negeri will be writing a letter to the Home Minister to appeal his decision on the matter,” he said.
Henrynus said Anak Negeri will be reiterating its views that the practical long term solution to the huge presence of Filipino transient population in Sabah is not the issuance of IMM13 pass but the political will to exercise Malaysia’s sovereign powers on illegals through the strict enforcement of immigration laws.
“Malaysia is a sovereign country. It does not make sense to suggest that Malaysia should seek the permission of the Philippines Government to deal with Filipino illegals in Sabah.”
He said Malaysia’s immigration laws require all foreigners who enter, stay, work or engage in trade in this country to be in possession of valid travel documents such as passports and valid entry or work permits.
“Just strictly enforce the Immigration Act 1959 especially the passport requirements, and everything should fall into place,” he said.
He said the issuance of IMM13 pass to Filipino illegals without the expressed consent of the State Government or the State Legislative Assembly is unconstitutional and certainly counter productive to State-Federal relations.
Henrynus meanwhile questioned the double standard in the treatment of illegals or the enforcement of immigration laws in West Malaysia and Sabah.
He said the Federal Government is conducting mass arrest of illegals and even rejecting Rohingya war refugees in West Malaysia but it is planning to legalise or issue IMM13 pass possibly up to 600,000 Filipino illegals in Sabah.
“We urge the Federal Government to immediately scrap or stop the IMM13 proposal and instead show sincerity by holding immediate meeting with the Philippines Government in Manila to discuss the immediate and orderly repatriation of Filipino illegals in Sabah to the Philippines.
He said undocumented Filipino workers in possession of kad burung-burung and kad banci who wish to remain and work in Sabah may be allowed to stay and work subject to their willingnes and ability to apply and obtain Philippines passport and work permits.
“These category of undocumented Filipino illegals should be given a timeline or grace period of 12 months to apply for their passports and work permits to enable them to remain and work in the state legally.”
“After the expiry of 12 months or may be extended to 24 months, those without a valid Philippines passport and work permits must be deported to their country of origins.”
“Anak Negeri rejects the arguments that the Philippines Government only recognise and accept their citizens with IMM13 pass for the purpose of issuing Philippines passport.”Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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