Proposed forum on illegals more necessary now – Jeffrey

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Sabah Star) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the proposed forum on illegal immigrants is now more necessary to resolve the longstanding illegal immigrants' problem, be it in Sabah or in Malaya.

"Nothing satisfactory was done by past leadership regimes, BN or PH, on the problem in Sabah,” he said.

"Under PH, Warisan had three full ministers and two deputies including one in the home ministry but not only they did nothing, they worsened the problem,” he claimed.

"However, the issue is not of the past as harped upon by the Warisan-PH-Upko leaders, but what needs to be done to secure a bright future for all genuine Malaysians whether in Sabah or not," Jeffrey explained.

He said the present Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is a new government and with a new leadership.

"Unlike the past, this new PN government has shown a new Putrajaya attitude towards illegal immigrants, example on the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, and has taken positive action to curb the PTIs (pendatang asing tanpa izin).

"We should have this new attitude applied to Sabah's undocumented foreign illegals since the Federal government is now equally concerned with the illegal immigrants.

He added that Malaysia and Sabah need to have better control of their borders and keep the country safe.

"The new Federal government is now more assertive to resolve the security problem and prevention of entry by foreigners illegally as well as to repatriate those already in Malaysia to their home countries," he pointed out.

Jeffrey said the time had come to find a long-term solution to the illegal immigrants.

"The circumstances now are totally different from even six months ago.

"Warisan, PH and Upko have forgotten that they scrapped the PSS issuance after listening to the voice of the people in the Kimanis by-election who soundly rejected the Warisan candidate and the PSS policy.

"For the record, the PSS policy, according the Home Ministry in a parliamentary reply stated that the introduction of the proposed PSS was a Sabah government initiative and not by the Federal government which merely acceded to the State initiative.

"If the Warisan-led government had listened to the people and scrapped the PSS, isn't it right to hold the forum and listen to the people's wishes and aspirations once again in finding the longterm solution?

“What better time than now since I am now in the Federal government unlike before,” said Jeffrey.