Solving Immigration issue
KOTA KINABALU: Transferring power to the state government is a way for the state to address its illegal immigrants issue, as well as its problem regarding the issuance of IMM13 documents.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the matter had been highlighted to the Federal Government.
“It’s better to decentralise power so we (state government) know who are local Sabahans as we can refer to the ketua kampung (village chief). Sometimes, when they apply (for documents) in Kuala Lumpur, I don’t think the officers there know who the applicants are. If Sabah is given the power to re-issue identity cards, it is one of the options we can utilise to solve the problem.”
Shafie said this after launching the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Tri-annual General Meeting here.
He was commenting on Upko’s stance on the need to recall all MyKad in Sabah, and have it reissued to only those eligible in accordance to the Federal Constitution and legal provisions.
On the issuance of the IMM13 documents to children of refugees who holds the document in the state, he said it was outside the state government’s knowledge.
“There was no discussion on the matter in the state cabinet and at the recent security council meeting. I can’t explain this because it came under the Home Ministry. However, if it involves illegal immigrants then we should not entertain it,” he said.
Earlier, Shafie said Upko’s cooperation as a shared partner (in the PH government) was needed so that the voices Sabahans could be realised, including the Malaysian Agreement 1963 .