Kota Kinabalu: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Sabah said while the people of Sabah support the humanitarian mission to Gaza as a result of the Palestine-Israel conflict, they oppose any notion of relocating war refugees to Sabah.
“Sabah is no longer able to accommodate a new wave of war refugees following the influx of Filipino refugees from Mindanao which has complicated the situation in Sabah,” said Acting Deputy President Datuk Stephen Teo in a statement, Tuesday.
Stephen said the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) statement for better humanitarian responsibilities towards Palestinian war refugees in Malaysia seems to suggest that Malaysia should accommodate more war refugees.
Hence, Stephen said Sabah should reject incoming refugees from problematic nations in order to alleviate the already present challenges that the people of Sabah confront.
He said Parti Star, led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan, would continue to prioritise Malaysian sovereignty in Sabah, particularly the application of Sabah and Sarawak rights in accordance with the Malaysian Constitution.
Both Sabah and Sarawak were accorded internal immigration controls as one of the conditions for the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
Meanwhile, Sarawak said it need not accept any refugees especially those from countries that are noted for violence and torn by anger and hatred, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said.
The Kapit MP stressed this when asked to comment on the caution issued by social activist Peter John Jaban of Sarawak Association of People’s Aspiration and several other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the probability of Palestinian refugees being allowed into Sarawak.
Nanta, who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Secretary-General, said he supports wholeheartedly the stance of the NGOs.
“We must be very careful so as to maintain and nurture our peaceful state where the people are now happily living in perfect harmony.
“We do not need any element that can sow negativity, divisiveness and hatred among Sarawakians eventually,” the Kapit MP said.
“Prevention is better than cure (because) we do not want having to regret in the future.”
Nanta stressed that Sarawak should and must focus on socio-economic development for the good of her own people.
“We are just a small country. We cannot be burdened by refugees. We still have many poor people of our own who need our full attention and care.”
However, Nanta said that he would want all who can afford to contribute financially to help the war victims who are suffering, to buy essential supplies for them, and that would be more meaningful and safer for Sarawak.
“I have contributed some funds for the purpose. I want to plead to Sarawakians to contribute to the Tabung (fund) for the Palestinians who are suffering from the war.
Let’s help the victims in the best and safest way that we can,” he added.
