THE Sabah Government is collecting biometric data to keep track of non-citizens, especially stateless persons, in the state.
Datuk Armizan Ali said this move is to help determine the exact size of Sabah’s foreigner population.
“By obtaining complete information about foreigners through digital data, including facial recognition, it will enable the Government to make a clear policy, including strategy and enforcement action mechanisms,” he said in reply to Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady (BN-Kalabakan) in the Dewan Rakyat.
Andi had asked about holistic and integrated mechanisms by the Government for managing issues related to the status of stateless persons, especially on Sabah’s east coast. Armizan, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions), said the State Government has also established a Non-Citizen Isolation Centre for beggars in Kota Kinabalu.
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“This centre offers a special programme that applies skills in self-management, community life and informal spiritual learning to beggars and detained street children. They will be sent to a temporary shelter for isolation for a maximum period of three months,” said the Minister.
The Government has also identified several locations in Semporna, Lahad Datu, Kudat and Kunak where stateless people may be relocated for better monitoring and management.
Armizan said the centre could also potentially become an educational and arts centre that could attract tourists to learn about the Pala’u culture.
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