Illegal Immigrants: Say ‘Sorry’, PBS Told

Queville To

Maximus Ongkili should resign from the federal Cabinet if PBS is blaming the federal government for failing to resolve the illegal immigrant issue, says oppposition SAPP.

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has been asked to apologise for lying to the people of Sabah over immigration issue.

According to Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), PBS had, 10 years ago, promised to solve the illegal immigrant problem in the state through the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

SAPP said that PBS, the senior BN coalition government member, had failed miserably to find a solution to the state’s biggest headache, which has grown even more serious.

SAPP Youth chief Edward Dagul called for the apology, saying PBS had admitted it had failed when its secretary-general Henrynus Amin warned that the BN government was in danger of falling over the illegal immigrant issue.

Henrynus issued the warning after the recent shooting of a by-stander by an alleged illegal immigrant during a robbery at a goldsmith’s shop on the outskirts of the city last week.

Dagul reminded PBS that it was well represented in the BN coalition government at state and federal levels but had made little headway on the immigration issue over the last decade.

“If Henrynus blames the federal government for its failure to solve the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah, then the only honourable thing to do is for Maximus Ongkili (Science, Technology and Innovation Minister) to resign from the cabinet and apologise to the people of Sabah for misleading them that it could solve the problem by rejoining BN 10 years ago,” he said.

Umno stooges

Dagul also noted that Henrynus had declared that PBS was proud to be the best friend of Umno, but was now saying the latter had failed to resolve the immigrant problem.

“So when an innocent local is murdered in Inanam by an illegal immigrant, PBS must also share the blame for its failure to tackle the crimes caused by the huge presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah,” he said.

Dagul added that it was well known that thousands of MyKads were still being issued to foreigners in the state.

“Many local employers can tell you that many foreign workers have obtained MyKads after working for a few months.

“This happens in Sandakan, Semporna, Labuan and even Putrajaya right under the noses of PBS and Upko (United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation) ministers.

“The situation has become so serious that an ex-ISA detainee who was arrested in 1996 for manufacturing fake ICs had installed himself as a sultan.

“What can PBS do about it? Nothing. This shows that PBS is in office but not in power. This is why local people call PBS leaders stooges of Umno,” he said.

Dagul was referring to a local businessman of Filipino decent, Mohd Akjan Ali Mohammad, who proclaimed himself the Sultan of Sulu in February this year and stated that he had a stake in the state. – Free Malaysia Today