BANGI : PATI (Pendatang
Asing Tanpa Izin or illegal immigrants) issues were found to be the most
important issue in Sabah that needed immediate attention from government as
mentioned by 53% of respondents of a recently concluded survey of Sabah voters.
This expectation was followed by concerns over cost of living (38%), corruption
(21%), jobs (13%) and welfare/poverty alleviation (10%).
In the same survey, 54% of
the respondents felt that that Sabah state was headed in the right direction,
representing a marked 12% decline from an earlier Merdeka Center survey
conducted in November 2009 which recorded 66% of respondents saying the state
was in the right direction. The decline in the perception that the state was
moving in the right direction could be charted across all major ethnic groups
as well as the urban rural divide as follows:
Among the top five reasons
for the decline appears to be the perception that the state remains lagging in
terms of economic development and infrastructure particularly in rural areas as
well as cost of living pressures. The survey also found that a number of
respondents cited dissatisfaction with the political leadership as well as the
illegal immigration problem.
Those who felt the state was
headed in the right direction expressed continued satisfaction at the pace of
economic development and the continuing peaceful conditions in the state.
Strong support for Royal
Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants
Following on from the PATI
issue, the survey found that an overwhelming 87% agreed with the establishment
of the royal commission of inquiry into the matter. However confidence in the
effective of the commission was more circumspect – with only 54% expressing
confidence that the commission will be able to address the problem.
The survey also found that
Sabah voters had mixed views as to the motivation behind the establishment of
the commission, with 46% expressing that it is “a genuine attempt to address
the illegal immigrant problem” while 36% agreeing that it was a “political move
to reduce the anger of Sabahans before the election”.
The survey was carried out
by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research between the 6th and 17th of
September 2012 to gauge voters’ perceptions of current developments in the
Sabah. 829 registered voters comprising 51% Muslim Bumiputra, 29% Non-Muslim
Bumiputra and 20% Chinese respondents which was reflective of electoral profile
of Sabah was interviewed via fixed line and mobile telephones.
Respondents were selected on
the basis of random stratified sampling along age group, ethnicity, gender and
state constituency. The poll was jointly funded by Merdeka Center and a
regional consultancy firm. For more details please click MERDEKA CENTER.
(NOTE : Merdeka Center for
Opinion Research was formally established in 2001 as an independent
organization focused on public opinion research and socio-economic analysis.
Merdeka’s mission is to act as a bridge between ordinary Malaysians and other
stakeholders with the leading members of the nation – by collecting public
opinion studies and expressing them through survey results, analysis and
position papers. For details, visit: www.merdeka.org Contact: Ibrahim Suffian, Director
- Programs via Mobile: 6012 379 1940 or Email: ben@merdeka.org or Tan Seng Keat
(Research Manager) via Mobile: 6012 395 0316 or Email: sengkeat@merdeka.org)
"Following on from the PATI issue, the survey found that an overwhelming 87% agreed with the establishment of the royal commission of inquiry into the matter."
ReplyDeleteWhile most of Sabahan agree with the RCi on illegal imigrant, the opposition, however, like to politicize this Commission, claiming that it would not work.
Do the best so solve the Illegal Immigrant in Sabah. Hope with implement the Royal Inquiry of Commission will help settle this case especially the Project IC in Sabah..
DeleteIf the RCI concluded their investigation before the coming general election, it will be like a boost in the government's image.
ReplyDeleteA Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) probing Sabah's longstanding immigrant problem has begun work with the appointment of an investigating officer.
ReplyDeletePrime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced on Aug 11 the setting up of the five-member commission.
ReplyDeletedisebabkan itulah najib melulus dan menubuhkan RCI untuk menyiasat pati dan projek ic di sabah.
ReplyDeleteharapan rakyat sabah, semoga RCI yang ditubuhkan ini akan dapat menyelesaikan isu pati dan projek IC serta menghukum dalang2 di sebalik pemberian warganegara kepada pendatang asing secara songsang.
ReplyDeletesix months period would begin from the date the instrument of appointments were issued to the RCI chairman and panel members and that the report would be submitted to Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
ReplyDeleteFurther investigation was also needed in matters pertaining to the standard operating procedures, methods and regulations on the issuance of the blue identity cards or citizenship to immigrants in Sabah by taking into account international standard and norms used in Malaysia
ReplyDeletethe RCI was also set up to find the cause for the increase in the population in Sabah, based on several categories, namely, Sabah people residing in the state, including those who had been issued with blue identity card and citizenship through birth certificates (late registration), foreign workers (including family members), illegal immigrants (including family members) and refugees, as well as the effects on the number of voters in the electoral roll.
ReplyDeletegood one this RCI, but another issue is, most sabahans, especially the young generation aged above 21 years, have not registered themselves as voters and are not interested in voting. a survey should at least be carried regarding this and find out why....
ReplyDeletethe decline in non-muslim sabah voters may be a result of sabahans not interested in voting....
ReplyDeleteWe should appreciate the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah as it could resolve the issue.
ReplyDeleteIt was a relief not just to the state BN leaders but also to all Malaysians in the state that the eight-point ToR for the RCI was generally what they had expected.
ReplyDeleteWith the ToR and composition of the RCI unveiled, the focus now is to ensure that the desired objectives are met.
DeleteWe hope everyone will give their full cooperation to this RCI implementation.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Pairin Kitingan hoped it would result in positive development in Malaysia and Sabah as well, particularly in regards to the problem of illegal immigrants
ReplyDeletePATI in Sabah for a long time it had made the situation complicated especially with the huge presence of Filipino illegal immigrants in the State.
ReplyDeleteThe Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Alliance (Ikhlas) claimed the existence of thousands of immigrants in Sabah would affect the rice bowls of local hawkers.
ReplyDeletethe illegal immigrants in Sabah as a threat to the security of the country, the establishment of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah would help to identify the problems related to their presence in the state.
ReplyDeleteCM said a series of regularisation exercises are helping solve Sabah’s long-standing illegal immigrant problems.
ReplyDelete