DAP Sabah wants RCI report debated in Parliament
KOTA KINABALU: DAP Sabah strongly condemns the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the RCI report to investigate the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah would be tabled next month.
In a press statement yesterday, its Deputy Chairman, Stephen Wong, said that the report is supposed to be tabled in the parliament sitting.
“If it is said to be tabled next month, the parliament sitting is over. Without going through debate i n parliament, there will be no public opinion or democratic process involved in the findings of report,” he added.
He said the report should be revealed to the public and let the parliamentarians take part in debate to share and discuss the findings of the RCI report. The debate would certainly help to find out a way to resolve the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah.
Wong, who is also Sandakan Member of Parliament, lambasted the decision which totally disrespects the democratic process of the state.
“Parliamentarians represent the people on the ground. If the RCI report bypasses parliament and is revealed to the public, it shows again that the Barisan Nasional government was never sincere to face public opinion as well as constructive criticisms or suggestions by parliamentarians. The people should have a say in this report which will decide the future of Sabah,” he said.
He also questioned the credibility of the federal cabinet and ministers on their inconsistent and contradictory statements on the revelation of the RCI report.
He said Federal Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan had given assurance that the RCI report will be made public after it is tabled in the parliament. This statement was made on 6 October, which is right before the sitting of parliament.
“Why an attendee as well as minister in the federal cabinet meeting can say a different thing which was contradictory to the announcement by Najib? What’s wrong in there? Isn’t that outcome of cabinet meeting would be consensus of government and practised in collective responsibility? Apparently either Rahman Dahlan or Najib has against the decision of cabinet meeting, but the question is, who is saying the right thing?” Wong questioned.
Rahman Dahlan said it would be tabled in parliament but after almost two months’ sitting, now Najib said it would be tabled next month when the parliament sitting is over.
The RCI report was announced by Najib in 2012, the whole process has taken two years more to complete, Wong said.
Sabahans have been waiting for the report for so long, after the submission of the RCI report to the government, it was delayed for almost half a year to be revealed. Why is it taking so long to disclose to the public? Are there any changes in the final report from the original one?
“I hope the government could come clean on everything about this RCI report. As the illegal immigrant issue is the mother of all problems in Sabah, the way to resolve this issue should be opened for discussion and involvement of the public including the debate in both parliament and state assembly hall,” Wong reiterated.
He also commented on the appointment of Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan to head the committee to pursue the contents of the report. He said although it is with good intention to let Pairin head this committee, however, he cannot represent the entire Sabahan society. He said the committee should be open to invite every particular representative including opposition politicians, NGOs, indigenous people leader, media, professor etc.
Wong had repeatedly mention this RCI repor t during his last few debate speeches in parliament. He consistently pressured the government to reveal it to the public as soon as possible for the benefit of Sabahans. After all, he said, the problem has became too complicated and brought serious impact and consequences to the future of Sabah, it cannot wait anymore. It should be resolved immediately.