PUTRAJAYA: A special card will be created and issued to foreign nationals residing for long in Sabah, including their children, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Describing this suggestion made by the Sabah Government as good, he said the card would enable the authorities to ascertain the number of foreign nationals present in the State.
“The problem in Sabah is complex. Many (foreigners) have been staying long in Sabah, for example, until the second or third generation of them and we know that they don’t have any identification documents at all.
“Therefore, we want to coordinate this by issuing the special card for these foreigners,
“What is important is knowing the extent of their presence in the country. They need to have an identification document and for us to know that they are foreign nationals.”
Hamzah said this to the media after chairing the first Sabah Foreign Nationals Management Main Committee Meeting (JKPWAS-INDUK) 2022 with Chief Minster Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, here, Thursday.
Asked on the number of foreign nationals to be given the card, Hamzah said data would be gathered to ascertain their number in Sabah.
“Perhaps this card can be issued within the next three months. We give them this special card, not a citizen card….it will be clearly stated on the card,” he said, adding that with it, they might be able to get a job and given a worker’s card.
“We are doing this for a humanitarian cause as they are also citizens of the world and as such, we should be giving them an identification document.
Hamzah also said that the JKPWAS-INDUK meeting Thursday agreed that the enforcement be made through concerted operations coordinated by the National Security Council (MKN), Sabah and to be intensified to stop the influx of illegal immigrants into Sabah.
Meanwhile, on the proposed resettlement of the Pala’u community, he said the matter would be studied further at the officials’ level through a working committee, from the policy and legal aspects.
Hamzah said the JKPWAS-INDUK meeting also agreed to consider the facilities specifically meant for Sabah to ensure the state’s development would not be adversely affected but continue to be rapid.
On the issue of late registration of births in Sabah, Hamzah said amendments to the Registration of Birth and Death Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 123) were being studied at the final level to consider extending the birth registration period from 42 days to 90.
“The issue of delayed repatriation of detainees from the immigration detention depots in Sabah is also being studied and discussed with the relevant embassies,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hamzah confirmed that former Bangladesh High Commissioner Mohammed Khairuzzaman is currently detained by the authorities.
Without disclosing what offence Mohammed Khairuzzaman was arrested for, he said the arrest of the former diplomat was carried out in accordance with existing legal procedures,
“If there is a request from the country of origin that we feel has a basis, then we will make (arrest) and everything is done according to existing legal procedures,” he said.
Hamzah said this when asked to comment on the detention of Mohammed Khairuzzaman, as reported by the international media Thursday.
According to media reports, Mohammed Khairuzzaman, who is reported to be living in Malaysia as a refugee, was detained at his home in Ampang on Wednesday, and is expected to be sent home to Bangladesh.
On another development, Hamzah, who is the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Secretary-General, described the speculation on two Bersatu ministers wanting to rejoin Umno, as psychological warfare.
“If there are rumours, don’t just simply believe them. If it is announced by those who wanted to quit (Bersatu), then you can believe it,” he said.
Hamzah added that psychological warfare was immediately created by politicians for the benefit of their respective parties, especially ahead of the Johor state election, which is scheduled to take place on March 12.
“This (psychological warfare) often happens… why is it coming out before the Johor state election? It is supposed to tell the people of Johor not to believe in Bersatu,” he said. Earlier, a local news portal revealed that two ministers from Bersatu were reported to quit the party to rejoin Umno.
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