RCI HOLDS ITS FIRST MEETING

HEAD.....Steve Shim, Head of the RCI

By : SHALINA R

THE ROYAL Commission of Inquiry (RCI) panel on Sabah's illegal immigrant issue, held its 1st meeting this morning. Headed by former High Court judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Steve Shim Lip Liong, the RCI panel had a short discussion on the progress of the investigation conducted by their investigative unit which was established on 1st October this year.

Specific areas of investigation is done based on the 8 Terms of Reference (TOR) announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in August 2012. The TOR aims to find a solution to the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah.

Shim said, "At the moment I understand the investigation is nearly complete and we have fixed the date of hearing proper on the 14th of January next year." He added,

"The judiciary has been kind enough to allot us with the main court room which will be sufficient to cater for both reporters and members of the public."

The hearing will be held at the Kota Kinabalu High Court where the press conference following the meeting was also held this afternoon.

48 witnesses have been identified through the investigations. According to the former judge, that number might be increased. He further added, "Anyone who can give us relevant information can come forward to testify."

The panel is now in the process of finalising the list as well as the calling order of those witnesses for the hearing. No details were given about them in order to protect their identities.

Shim said, " Barring any kind of complications we hope to finish the inquiry before the 6 months deadline." The date of appointment was in September 21st this year.

He also announced that subsequent meetings will be held in the future where further questions can be asked. (Insight Sabah)

MEETING....Members of RCI: Tan Sri Datuk Amar Steve Shim Lip Liong, the former High Court Judge of Sabah and Sarawak (2nd from left) addressing the media during a press conference held at the Kota Kinabalu Hight Court. Datuk Saripuddin Kasim, Secretary of RCI and the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (far left), and the panel members (starting from the far right) former State Secretary Datuk KY Mustafa, former Sabah State Attorney-General Tan Sri Herman Luping, former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu and former UMS Vice-Chancellor Datuk Kamaruzaman Ampon.