Give illegals temporary work permits – rep

SANDAKAN: Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun said he had a discussion with Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Bin Jamman yesterday on the illegal immigrant issue and he had suggested that working illegal immigrants in Sabah should be given temporary work permits.

“We discussed a suggestion to solve the illegal immigrant problem, which is to give illegal immigrants temporary resident permits to work in Sabah temporarily. This will help the palm oil sector to save costs on labour and at the same time increase efficiency.

“This method will not have a negative impact on the KDM (KadazanDusun Murut) community and Sabahans. Relevant parties could also get their (immigrants) information such as finger prints and photos, and this will also help us keep track with their numbers (statistics of illegal immigrants who have entered Sabah). This way (with their information on hands) they will not dare to commit crimes, and this will reduce the crime rate in Sabah.

“With this temporary resident permit, the immigrants will be able to get a job and pay for their cost of living. Hence, they will be able to rent People’s Housing Project (PPR) (houses) and spend money in Sabah, and this will boost the economy in Sabah.

“If the illegal immigrant issue can be solved, the situation in Sabah will be better and we would not need to worry too much about Sabah’s security condition,” he said.

However, Chong said he did not agree that illegal immigrants be given the same status as Sabahans because he respected KDM and Sabahans.