THE Sabah Government has collected the digital data of some 14,855 foreigners working or living at Sawit Kinabalu estates across the State in a recently concluded pilot study.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the findings will be tabled during a Cabinet meeting on June 14.
“Then we can propose a budget and expect to record the whole of Sabah, including squatter settlements and islands, by year-end.
“Once we have the digital data of everyone residing in Sabah, we will be able to regulate the population alongside preserving human rights.
“That is why we need the full cooperation of employers and foreign workers. At the same time, we must ensure adequate manpower and resources for technicalities,” he said in a press conference after chairing a Special Cabinet Committee on the proposed Cards for Foreign Workers and Foreign Immigrants in Sabah at Menara Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu, on June 4.
The project aims to capture biometric data that are facial structures or fingerprints of all individuals in Sabah, locals included.
The pilot project was funded by the Internal Affairs and Research Office departmental budget and did not involve law enforcement agencies.
“We don’t involve Immigration or police yet, otherwise we would not be able to exercise our job. The foreigners are doing it voluntarily. Maybe when we deal with the policies later on, all stakeholders would be involved,” he said.
Dr Jeffrey said half of the immigrant entries were undocumented, with many being their offspring.
“We will begin with plantation and move on to different economic categories like the construction industry and then to services.
“If we don’t collect and record this data, then we won’t be able to find a solution to the problem of illegal immigrants.
“At least if we deport them and they return, we would be able to identify and take action,” he said, adding that sea gypsies or “palauhs” are different category altogether.
