HIDDEN.....Credit
must go to Chief Minister Musa Aman for convincing Putrajaya to go ahead with
the RCI despite the 'hidden hand' of Umno Vice-President Shafie Apdal.
By : SELVARAJA SOMIAH
THE ROYAL Commission of
Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the exponential increase in illegal immigrant
population in Sabah is good news. It is certainly a historic moment.
After so many years, this
issue is finally being investigated and being given the utmost attention by the
federal government, which is actually responsible for the mess Sabah is in
today.
The announcement also
confirmed that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Prime Minister
Najib Tun Razak are at loggerheads.
Mahathir’s politically
provocative statement on the eve of Najib’s announcement of the RCI was aimed
at creating tensions within Sabah Barisan Nasional and sabotaging the RCI.
But his attempt failed. Now
it is proven that Mahathir was all along making systematic attempts to change
the political demography of Sabah under his adminstration at the expense of the
local indigenous population.
Mahathir’s use of history to
justify free movement of foreigners into Sabah is seriously flawed, and by his
own logic, he seemed to justify the Philippines’ claim on Sabah.
Credit must go to Chief
Minister Musa Aman for working behind the scenes to convince all parties within
Sabah Umno to accept the RCI for the good of Sabah.
Believe me, it must have
been really very difficult for Musa as there are warlords like Umno
vice-president Shafie Apdal – who is closely aligned to Mahathir – who are
opposing the RCI and are manipulating Putrajaya in the process.
‘Common
good’
Some time back there were
claims that the socio-politico problems in Sabah were the result of the
presence of millions of illegals and, if not controlled in time, would
exterminate for ever the local native Kadazan-Dusun Murut (KDM) communities.
I can understand why some
people think this way. But are the problems that Sabah has witnessed,
especially in recent times, enough to exterminate this intelligent and creative
tribe?
Understandably the issue of
illegal immigrants is enormous and the problems that have taken place in Sabah
are serious.
A national population census
in 2010 showed an exponential 390% increase in Sabah’s population. In 1970,
Sabah had 636,431 citizens. In 2010, it was 3.12 million.
Of the 3.12 million Sabahans
today, reports have estimated that 27% are foreigners.
People like Mahathir or
groups responsible for allowing the illegals to swamp Sabah use their own
peculiar discourses and through them, they try to rationalise their actions
even though these people know very well that such actions would hurt or affect
the lives of the indigenous people of Sabah.
Whatever be the context in
which they justify their actions, my strong contention is that no human action
should be at the expense of the “common good” of Sabah.
RCI yang kita nantikan ini untuk memastikan masalah mengenai projek ic yang berlaku dapat diselesaikan.
ReplyDeleteSemua la terlibat dengan IC projek dan dalang PATI harus dikenakan tindakan undang2.
DeleteSama-sama la kita menyokong RCI supaya dapat mencapai objektif sepenuh.
ReplyDeleteMudah-mudahan dalang kemasukan PATI beramai2 di Sabah akan menerima hukuman yang berat.
ReplyDeletedalam ramai2 ketua menteri di Sabah, akhirnya zaman Musa Aman juga semua masalah2 kritikal di Sabah diselesaikan..
ReplyDeleteini adalah satu perkembangan yang baik dimana kerajaan pimpinan DS Najib bersedia untuk berhadapan dengan desakan, tuntutan dan masalah-masalah rakyat di Sabah? sepatutnya rakyat dan juga pemimpin-pemimpin masyarakat melihat langkah kerajaan ini dari sudut positif. Sekalipun tidak mampu melihat dari sudut yang positif, sekurang-kurangnya bagilah kerjasama dengan tidak mempolitikkan perkara ini.
ReplyDeleteRCI bukanlah kaedah yang pertama dan terakhir dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan dalam menyelesaikan masalah pendatang haram dan juga Projek IC di Sabah. Sebelum ini juga, kerajaan telah melaksanakan pelbagai usaha termasuklah penubuhan jawatankuasa pusat dan juga negeri bagi menyiasat dan merangka penyelesaian kepada fenomena warga asing di negeri ini, penubuhan program 5P disamping penguatkuasaan berteruskan dari anggota beruniform samada di daratan mahupun perairan.
ReplyDeletePendek kata, pelbagai usaha telah dan sedang dilaksanakan, namun masalah ini tetap berterusan.
ReplyDeleteJika ada pihak yang mengatakan bahawa kerajaan tidak ikhlas menyelesaikan masalah ini hanya kerana kerajaan mengumumkan RCI disaat-saat akhir, bagaimana pula dengan usaha-usaha kerajaan sebelum ini? RCI sebenarnya hanya kesinambungan dari usaha-usaha kerajaan yang kurang berkesan sebelum ini, dalam kata yang mudah difahami "selagi tidak selesai selagi itu kita perlukan kaedah baru yang lebih komprehensif".
Tanpa melihat kepada faktor Pilihanraya Umum, saya simpulkan bahawa langkah kerajaan menubuhkan RCI menunjukkan keikhlasan dan kesungguhan kerajaan dalam menyelesaikan ibu segala masalah di Sabah.
ReplyDeleteSeveral Sabah leaders hailed the setting up of a royal commission of inquiry to probe the issue of illegal immigrants in the state.
ReplyDeleteThe positive feedback for the setting up of the RCI, announced on Friday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, came from Sabah Umno, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Organisation (UPKO) and Sabah MIC.
ReplyDeleteSabah Umno deputy liaison chief Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak described the RCI showed the government’s seriousness in wanting to solve the perennial illegal immigrant problem once and for all.
ReplyDelete“I believe every section of society in the state would be very happy with this announcement and I hope Sabahans will accept the decision with an open heart,” he told Bernama.
ReplyDeleteSalleh, who is Sabah state legislative assembly speaker, said he hoped that the establishment of the RCI would not be turned into a political issue or politicised by questioning matters pertaining to details such as the RCI terms of reference and so on.
ReplyDelete“We should give time and ample opportunity for the RCI committee to carry out its investigations or duties,” he said.
ReplyDeletePBS deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, hailing the RCI establishment as “much welcome news for the people of Sabah”, said the people of the state had been eagerly waiting for the announcement.
ReplyDelete“It is a fulfillment of a decade of requests, especially from us in Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). The formal announcement confirms that the federal government is sincere in solving the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah.
ReplyDelete“As a member of the (federal) administration and deputy president of PBS, I commend and salute the prime minister for his boldness in confronting the illegal immigration problem in Sabah and its associated problems — citizenship, security, socio-economic, health and political.
ReplyDelete“This is yet another strategic component of the PM’s national transformation agenda,” he said.
ReplyDeletePBS secretary-general Datuk Henrynus Amin said he saw no reason why the people would not support the Barisan Nasional (BN) after this announcement by the prime minister.
ReplyDeleteUPKO secretary-general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said in order to achieve the government objective of upholding the rule of law and the supremacy of the federal constitution, the members of the RCI must be people with calibre, having the kind of credentials that reflect integrity and credibility.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Wilfred said, the RCI terms of reference must be comprehensive enough to cover investigation of burning issues and pertinent questions such as the extraordinary increase in the population of Sabah.
ReplyDelete“On both points, the input by component parties of the Barisan Nasional must be seriously taken into account in the formulation of the RCI terms of reference and composition of the membership,” he said.
ReplyDeleteSabah MIC liaison chairman Datuk V Jothi called on the people to rally behind the BN government and have confidence in the BN to find a lasting solution to the illegal immigrant problem.
ReplyDelete“Although it is long overdue, it is better late than never. I’m sure the people of Sabah are happy,” he said. Jothi said the federal government’s decision was in line with the aspirations of the 1Malaysia concept which prioritises the needs of the people.
ReplyDelete