Azis should apologise to the people over statement — activist

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman should apologise to the people of Sabah for allegedly misleading them on the status of IMM13 pass holders by claiming that the Philippines government refused to accept them as the country’s citizens, according to Kanul Gindol, a human rights advocate from Kota Belud.

The Philippines Embassy had since clarified in a statement carried by the media that Manila would accept IMM13 pass holders as citizens of the Philippines, he said.

“This is proof that IMM13 holders have Philippines nationality. The question of Manila turning away such people, if sent home by Malaysia, does not arise,” he contended.

“Azis now claims that the statement by the Philippines Embassy was a scoop carried by only one newspaper, New Sabah Times, which he believes is owned by a former Sabah Chief Minister,” Kanul said.

Again, if Manila was willing to accept IMM13 pass holders, Azis wondered why the previous administration did not send them back, he said.

“It’s true the previous administration did not send home the IMM13 pass holders, but this was due to the unsettled conditions in the southern Philippines.

“Now that the situation in the southern Philippines has improved dramatically since late last year, the onus is on the new administration to expedite the deportation of all IMM13 pass holders in Sabah.”