EWON TELLS NEW GOVT TO PROVE THAT THEY CAN SOLVE SABAH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ISSUES

16 NOV 2020

KOTA KINABALU: The new state government must prove that they can solve the problem of illegal immigrants (PATI) in the state, said Kadamaian State Assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick.

He said, issues on illegal immigrants have been widely used during the campaigns in the recent state election, alleging that the previous government was PATI-friendly.

“It is a fact that problems involving illegal immigrants have been going on for a long time.

“The Head of State has also expressed the concern of the State Government in terms of security and PATI problems. Today we want to see that the State Government can indeed solve this problem," said Ewon who is also the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) Vice President.

He mentioned that during the Berjaya Government, tens of thousands of illegal immigrants were given Burung Burung and Census cards during the PBS Government which the Federal Government through the Immigration Department then issued IMM13 documents to the foreigners.

“We have also heard and learned of Jabar Khan's confession in the Dewan Rakyat Special Select Committee on Integrity where hundreds of foreigners were registered as voters in Sabah by the Umno Task Force in 1991.

"Today, we face the issues of stateless children and absence of documents involving children whose one of the parents is an immigrant. The report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal Immigrants in Sabah has revealed a lot of confusion about this problem, "he said.

He added that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was the one who proposed proposed the grant of Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) back when he was the Home Minister, but instead the State Government at that time was the one accused of being PATI-friendly.

“The State Government which was led by Senalang State Assemblyman (Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal) has finally rejected the PSS proposal.

"Now we want the current government to implement the solution," he insisted.

Ewon said, although all 73 Assemblymen are of different political parties, stances, principles and views, they have the similarities to work together to fight for the rights of the Sabah people in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), for the development and facilities of infrastructure, peace, security and unity.

"The role of check and balance does not mean that we are opposing all the time. We support what is right, we deny what is wrong, we do what is right. We can continue to excel together for the people of Sabah,” he said.