Jeffrey urged to lodge report over ‘new citizens’
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has been told to lodge a police report if he is worried about immigrants taking over the state after the change in government.
Parti Warisan Sabah permanent chairman Datuk V.K. Liew said those claiming to see intimidation and harassment by illegal immigrants should also lodge police reports immediately for the country’s sake.
Dr Jeffrey had issued a statement claiming there would be an influx of illegal immigrants now that Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal is Chief Minister, owing to his BajauSuluk descent.
“I want him (Dr Jeffrey) to make a police report immediately so police can investigate his allegation and determine if there's any truth to it,” Liew said.
He added it was unfortunate that such a distorted and narrowminded view, calculated to cause fear and anxiety among the people of Sabah, was being spread.
Liew said it was a known fact that Shafie was of BajauSuluk descent, and found it strange that no one had made it an issue when he was in the Federal Government previously.
He said instead of focusing on issues of ethnicity, the Opposition should talk about policies and development.
Liew added that apart from Dr Jeffrey, some citizens had also voiced their concern about illegal immigrants, citing a recent claim by a man that illegal immigrants have been threatening locals in Keningau district.
Liew said he had advised the man to report the matter to the nearest police station but had not received any update from him.
He said chief ministers of different ethnicity had taken office since the formation of Malaysia in 1963, so people should not be concerned by such issues.
They include Tun Fuad Stephens, Tan Sri Peter Lo, Tun Mustapha Harun, Tan Sri Harris Salleh, Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan, Tun Sakaran Dandai, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Datuk Seri Osu Sukam, Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat and Tan Sri Musa Aman.
Hence, Dr Jeffrey’s claim of a sudden influx of “new citizens” after Shafie's recent victory has no basis and is just his imagination, Liew said.