Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor reminded all parties Friday to not ‘jump the gun’ over the “Foreigner Card” issue, as it was merely a recommendation made by the technical committee on the issue.
The recommendation would have to undergo fine-tuning, taking into account views and input from all stakeholders, including political parties, activists and Sabahans, he said, adding that the matter would be further deliberated by the State Government before a final decision is made.
He also adamantly stressed that the proposal does not involve giving foreigners identification cards nor documents granting them citizenship.
“The State Management Committee on Foreign Nationals was established following the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah’s recommendation for a joint platform between the State and Federal Government to manage this issue,” he said in a statement.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin had said that a special card would be created and issued to foreign nationals residing for long periods in Sabah, including their children.
He also described the suggestion made by the Sabah government as good, saying that the card would enable the authorities to ascertain the number of foreign nationals present in the state.
Hajiji said the Kad Warga Asing (foreigner card) and the Kad Pekerja Warga Asng (foreign worker card) have been proposed to be standard documents for all holders of IMM 13, Sijil Banci and Kad Burung-Burung, which were previously issued to Filipino immigrants and all legal foreign workers.
“The proposed foreign worker card will be issued to all foreign workers in the plantation, agriculture and fisheries, manufacturing, construction and domestic helpers sectors amongst others. We need to establish a database of foreign workers so that there is a systematic record of their presence in the state.
“We take into account views and input from all relevant parties who share a concern on this legacy issue. At the state level, I will chair the State Security Committee (JKKNS) whilst the State Secretary will head the working committee,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the key JKKNS members comprised Esscom, Armed Forces, police, Immigration and Registration Departments, the Internal Affairs and Research Office of the Chief Minister’s Department and the National Security Council as joint secretariat.
He added that the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government was determined to solve the long-standing illegal immigrant issue.
“As a responsible government, the GRS state government will always be guided by the interests of the people and state in its decision-making. The GRS state government takes note of all the views and input from all quarters, following the statement by the Home Minister,” he said.
The GRS-led administration, he reiterated, holds steadfast to the principles of transparency in finding a solution to the illegal immigrant issue and would ensure that accurate information regarding the issue is disseminated to all.
“Our stand is that all illegal immigrants must be deported and only those working legally in the state will be issued with the foreign worker card. Background checks will be done and those with criminal records will face the full brunt of the law,” Hajiji stressed.
Hajiji said the issue was important as the availability of a sufficient workforce was vital in the government’s efforts to attract more investments to the state.
He also welcomed the federal government’s efforts to jointly deliberate on a way forward to solve the issue.
The proposal by Hamzah is receiving criticism for being similar to a Temporary Pass (PSS) that was mooted during the Pakatan Harapan and Warisan administration which the current government had objected to.
Claims of the PSS being the first step to granting illegal immigrants citizenship was reported to be a factor that had caused the Warisan State Government to lose the Kimanis by-election in 2020.
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