Malaysia urged to ‘deport illegals from Sabah’

KOTA KINABALU — The Federal Government has been urged to find ways to deport non-citizens in Sabah instead of issuing them with special passes, said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

PBS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement on the issuance of the renewable Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) to some 600,000 foreign nationals in the state was of concern to Sabahans.

He said these passes were tantamount to allowing foreign nationals to multiply and eventually alter Sabah’s demography.

“There is a possibility of foreign nationals outnumbering locals, and this will eventually put us at a disadvantage, ” he said in a statement on Monday.

Bangkuai said in the interest of Sabahans, all foreign nationals should be deported.

He said issuing the PSS would also encourage more foreigners to enter Sabah illegally.

“The government should impose Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) governing the deportation of immigrants without proper travel documents, and repatriate illegal immigrants to their country of origin, ” he said.

Bangkuai said all foreign nationals without any travel documents who genuinely wished to return and earn a living in Sabah could re-enter the state with valid travel documents issued by their country of origin.

He said Sabahans had every reason to be concerned as the PSS could be renewed every three years.

It must also be noted with concern that the Philippines’ Foreign Secretary recently declared that Sabah belonged to the Philippines, Bangkuai said.

The Philippines’ Ambassador to Malaysia had, after paying a courtesy call on Sabah Chief Minister earlier this year, publicly stated that his country had yet to drop its claim on Sabah.

“With this concern hanging over our head, it cannot be discounted that the large presence of Filipino illegal immigrants and war refugees from southern Philippines who remain in Sabah could prompt a ‘reverse takeover’.

“It must also be noted that there were numerous reports about Filipino immigrants from Sabah entering Peninsular Malaysia using fake documents, and as such, the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah could become a national problem, ” said Bangkuai, who called on the federal government to take immediate steps to deport them in collaboration with the state government.