Tuaran: The Home Affairs Ministry receives constant updates from the Sabah Government on the digital data collection of foreign workers in the State, said its Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said his Ministry and the Sabah Government have a joint committee.
“The task of collecting data on foreigners in Sabah is under the purview of the Chief Minister’s Department, which is now gathering the data, before we plan matters related to immigration, citizenship, birth certificates and others,” he said after officiating a transit house for former inmates, here, Monday.
“The State Government always provides updates, and we work closely on this matter through the Chief Minister’s Department,” said Saifuddin.
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Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the findings would be presented during a Cabinet meeting before they could propose a budget, and expect to record the whole of Sabah, including squatter settlements and islands, by end of year.
He also said half of the immigrant entries were undocumented, with many being their offspring. Jeffrey said they could only resolve the illegal immigrant problem with data collection.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the second Baitul Mahabbah temporary shelter for foreign children will be opened in Papar next month.
Baitul Mahabbah is an initiative by the Home Affairs Ministry, under the supervision of the Immigration Department, to ensure the safety of children placed in immigration detention centres while waiting for the documentation process to be completed.
“The conditions in the immigration depots are relatively unconducive. As such, the Baitul Mahabbah would provide more conducive premises (for the children).
“The first shelter was opened in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, and three more will be opened – one in Papar in November, and one each in Sarawak and the peninsula.
“So, we will have four such facilities,” he said.
He disclosed that this initiative will cost RM10 million. Another initiative that the Ministry will focus on, he said, would be the Mekar (Menyemai Kasih Rakyat) programme.
“The Mekar initiative is an outreach programme by the National Registration Department (NRD).
“It facilitates Malaysians who have yet to be documented to obtain identification documents.
“This is important as when they have identification documents, it is easier for them to be involved in targeted subsidies and access to education and healthcare, among others,” he said.
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