PBS to submit memo on illegals issue to govt
PENAMPANG: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is fully committed in resolving the large presence of illegal immigrants in the state, and is ready to bring the matter to the international platform, if needed to.
Its president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili in disclosing this said PBS had been championing the cause since the party’s establishment three decades ago, stressing that the issue was even part of its core struggles.
“We are ready to bring this issue to the international platform, unless the government takes drastic actions to cleanse Sabah of illegal immigrants,” he said after the swearing-in of PBS Supreme Council, Wanita Exco and Youth Exco members at its headquarters, here, Friday.
In pursuing the matter, Ongkili said PBS had also set up the Illegal Immigrants and Foreign Workers Bureau, to be headed by the party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Radin Malleh, where they would be submitting a memorandum on the issue to the governments, both at the state and federal levels.
“Our motto is ‘Sabah for Sabahan first, and then only the genuine Malaysians. We do not subscribe to the term ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ because some of us do have relatives through marriages in other states in Malaysia. What’s important is for the illegal immigrants be arrested and deported, taken action in accordance with the law.
“We have done enough. Enough has been submitted and voiced out, yet action taken has yet been satisfactory. We want a concrete solution, and we are not afraid to go above and beyond,” he stressed.
He noted that there have been reports written by foreign scholars on this alarming issue in Sabah, to which PBS plans to coorganise international forums and seminars pertaining to the arising threats over the presence of illegal immigrants to national security, Sabah and Sabahans.
“We will fully use publication of articles to ensure the international communities are aware of the threats affecting the grassroots here. We will start a working group on this, including involving international professionals, or Sabahans staying abroad, and those who have published works on this issue,” Ongkili stressed.
He said working with global and international parties would be the party’s last resort if the federal government did not take the matter seriously.
“Our team is solid and ready to move. We want to cleanse Sabah off illegal immigrants,” he said.
On another development, Ongkili said the large number of new faces in the party’s new line-up was evident that PBS was still relevant and going strong.
“About half of the party’s main line-up are those aged 50 and below, while the youth and women wings have between 50 to 70 per cent new faces, mostly young professionals.
“This is a good sign for us and shows that there are a lot of young people and professionals interested to take part in pursuing our struggles, for the continuity of PBS, fighting for the rights of Sabah and Sabahans. They have come forward to offer themselves to serve the party and the grassroots,” Ongkili said.
He added that three decades on, they pledged to continue focusing on PBS’s 10 core struggles, mainly on four major issues - promotion of multiracial politics, dignity of man, Sabah’s security and upholding the promises stated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“PBS is the only genuine multiracial party in Sabah and we will continue to ensure Sabahans stay united. We will also continue to voice out on matters pertaining to the freedom of association, freedom of religion, freedom of access to government facilities and government assistance and so on.
“As for Sabah’s security, this has always been close to our hearts and remain as number one in our spirit of fighting for Sabah, especially in eliminating illegal immigrants to keep both the state and country safe.
“We will also continue to fight the rights of Sabah and Sabahans as enshrined in MA63,” he said.
He further added that PBS would be aggressively promoting the party’s struggle and recruitment drive to bring in new blood into the party.
“We will make sure our voices are heard, especially in voicing out the people’s rights, besides defending their aspirations and to put the ‘New Malaysia’ government, whether in parliament or state, on their stand so that they fulfill their promises and manifesto in the last election. They must deliver,” he said.
He stressed that PBS’ six state assemblymen will continue to speak up and bring matters to the State Assembly, while working closely with the government, adding: “We will continue to be government-friendly on matters that are good for the people. (But) PBS can be hard-core opposition against matters that are not good to the people, abusive to the system, destructive to the wellbeing of the people.”
Apart from the Illegal Immigrants and Foreign Workers Bureau, eight other bureaus were also set up to ensure the smooth running of PBS programmes, activities and struggles, namely the Administration and Finance Bureau and Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Sabah Rights Bureau, to be headed by Ongkili; Discipline Bureau headed by Malleh; Law and Legal Matters Bureau (PBS deputy president Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai); Youth and Women Bureau (PBS deputy president Senator Datuk Jamilah Sulaiman); Research and Training Bureau (PBS secretary general Datuk Jahid Jahim); Membership Drive and Database Bureau (PBS vice president Datuk Johnny Mositun); and Information Bureau (PBS Information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai).