Programs good if not to facilitate illegals’ citizenship bid – PBS

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) described the government’s move to implement the Regularization programme and Recalibration of Work Force Programme as a good plan, if it doesn’t facilitate the illegal immigrants to get a legal document that would enable them to apply for Malaysian citizenship.

PBS vice president, Datuk Johnny Mositun said that the government must be strict and practice its due diligence when implementing the programme.

“PBS is sensitive to the complaints of Sabahans who do not want Sabah to be flooded by illegal immigrants and do not want the illegal immigrants to use the programme as a ‘rat trail’ or means to stay permanently in Sabah,” said Johnny in a statement yesterday.

On Monday night, Local Government and Housing Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun was quoted saying that the State government is in the process of implementing the Regularization Programme and Recalibration of Work Force Programme to manage and coordinate illegal immigrants to acquire legal work documents.

Masidi said that the programme will be implemented with the cooperation of the Malaysia Immigration Department in Sabah.

The issuance of the document however depends on the requisite whereby the illegal immigrants must own a passport issued by their own country and they must belong to countries that allow them to work in Sabah; as well as fulfill other conditions as stated by the Immigration Department.