BN ISSUED 40,000 BIRTH CERTIFICATES PATI

BEAUFORT: Chairman of the Sabah Reform Alliance (PPPS) Datuk Lajim Ukin alleged that the influx of illegals and issuance of ICs as well as birth certificates to foreigners in this country is getting out of control under the BN to the extent of affecting the rights of indigenous people of Sabah.

The former Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government also claimed that there were about 40,000 birth certificates issued to children of illegal immigrants in Semporna in the past, which must be resolved immediately.

"There has been a report that 40,000 birth certificates have been issued in that area and it is feared that one day it will be detrimental to Sabah, including national security if not addressed properly.

"This is because the illegal immigrants have obtained citizen rights through the provision of IC and birth certificates. They can go anywhere they like including the peninsula or even the whole of Malaysia," he said.

In this context, he claims Barisan Nasional (BN) has not been transparent in solving the problem of illegals in the State.

He claimed when he was in the Cabinet, BN and a member of the Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrant committee he had been directed not to touch on the issue or even support the proposal to address the problem of PTI in Sabah.

According to him, during a meeting one committee member proposed the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the influx of illegals, since the issuance of Identity Card to illegal immigrant was widespread in Sabah.

He claimed a leader told him not to support the proposal and, instead, leave it to the Federal Government to decide.

"However, I did not entertain the leader's request and I still expressed strong support for the proposal apart from raising the problem of the state's illegal immigrant in the meeting," he said.

Lajim believed this was among the reasons the leader was dissatisfied with him.

Met at the meet-the-people session at Kampung Lumadan, here on Wednesday, Lajim who is also Beaufort MP, launched the squad 'Tempur 13' PR Sipitang involving young people in the area, which is a platform to explain PR struggle to the people.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into illegal immigrants in Sabah is due to start its hearings on Jan. 14.