Real action on illegals underway
KOTA KINABALU: Real action against Sabah’s inherited illegal immigrant issue is underway as Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) fends of identification card issuance grenades launched by the opposition, revealed deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking.
Leiking said the Home Ministry with the Chief Minister is working on several matters which include regulating the state borders, stopping illegal entries and solving other current problems.
“There are many ways to solve it. One of it, I think on the (identification) card, is to record each and everyone of these people. We have to accept the fact that they are already here but as long as we don’t record, we don’t do tagging, we don’t have record of who is here, then they will always be accusing here and there without proof,” said Leiking at a press conference held when receiving around 40 Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) members from Tanjung Aru at the party’s media centre in Kolombong here yesterday, led its former Tanjung Aru deputy chief Henry Chu.
“We have to record them. Then we look into the RCI (Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah) recommendations. If the recommendations that have been made by the old committee is good, we must take it and use. I think the Chief Minister has already directed the relevant people to start implementation as well as to restart on how to solve this illegal immigrant problem in Sabah.
“Right now there is already action being done by the security authorities but in actual positioning let the Chief Minister tell (it) and everyone should hear it from him. From the federal side and the state side, we have already done a timeline between ourselves and the Chief Minister will in due time announce it to Sabah.
“You see when you do these types of thing there are a lot of things to consider. There are a lot of security preparatory positioning you will have to do as well. Can you imagine if we push this without taking care of the security first? I am as eager as you are,” he stressed.
Leiking, who is also Penampang Member of Parliament, emphasized that the issue had been played out and lies had been spread sans a moral compass to simply attack Warisan as its influence is getting stronger.
He said there are elements within some parties in Sabah that fear they will no longer be relevant as the issue of racism has already started to dissipate amongst the people.
“To all those who like to use the issue and accuse Parti Warisan Sabah as a party dominated by one race, or a party related to illegal immigrants, I am telling you, you better apologize to God cause you are lying,” he stressed.
“Secondly, I want them to realize something. You will be isolated and your leaders will enjoy their penchants in their lives, believe me. Your political leaders who are elected are enjoying their life and you are being made stupid by your political leaders. I pray that they will be isolated and Sabah will reach the way it should be, the success it should be.
“Enough of the negativity from people like them who make up slanders, making accusations, creating it with their imagination. You must deal with God, because you are lying to your people and when you are lying to your people, some who get influenced will believe you. But political leaders will enjoy their penchants, enjoy their allowance as Members of Parliament or ADUNs (state assemblymen) while you suffer and isolate yourself from progression,” he warned.
Leiking reiterated for those making the allegations to come forth and provide proof that Warisan was issuing identification cards (ICs) to illegal immigrants.
“I know those people that are crazy. They like to make up and twist what I say. I am very clear, Parti Warisan Sabah is against people who break laws, and I am glad that SPRM (Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission) and also the police have arrested people in the government, who are benefiting commercially, making money out of issuing ICs to illegal immigrants,” he said.
“Datuk Shafie Apdal is very consistent on this. Anyone who breaks the law by giving illegal ICs, by giving documentations illegally and not in accordance to the law, must be dealt with by the law. Parti Warisan Sabah is against people like this but we don’t go around like them and accusing other parties doing it. Not like them accusing Parti Warisan Sabah.
“You know why they accuse Parti Warisan Sabah? Because we are doing the right thing by stopping all these illegal immigrants from entering Sabah, by stopping these crimes that are being committed in Sabah. So when I said that I am confident, it is because I know. We have all agreed in the party to end this perennial problem that we have inherited from the previous regime, which is the illegal immigrants who have been given project IC,” he added.
“It’s been six months and there are so many attacks on us. This means we are doing the right thing because it is making other people irrelevant. That is why they have to attack so that they become relevant,” he said.
“But members who join like this, new people who give faith on us, gives us more determination to do the right thing for everyone. Because the bricks that they bring will build a new Sabah. Each and everyone brings a brick so we build a new Sabah this way. For those who are not with us and those who criticize us, they have the right to criticize us but do not lie about us,” he reiterated.
Warisan secretary general and elected state assemblyman Loretto S Padua Jr also announced that the Chief Minister Meet the People program will start next month.
“I was told that the Chief Minister Office will invite the respective MPs and YBs (people’s representatives) to join together. I was told it is in Kota Marudu. So let them (people’s representatives from the opposition side) witness the giving of IC to those who do not have IC, given to those illegal immigrant people,” he said sarcastically.
“Now, I said if (Kota Marudu MP) Datuk Dr Max (Ongkili) get the invitation, please come,” Loretto said, adding that all the opposition people’s representatives should come to the event.
“But let them say that Warisan give the IC, since they dare and say there is proof. Because they dare to say, they dare to bear (the responsibility). Don’t lie. I mean I don’t know how they do it when they go to their own mosque or church, and say that they are good people, when they lie. I don’t know. I just cannot accept these liars,” chimed in Leiking.