SO ILLEGAL WORKERS, ILLEGAL PEOPLE, SHOULD NOT BE IN THE STREETS, AS THEY SHOULD BE EITHER REPATRIATED OR TAKEN TO THE LOCK-UP," - DOMPOK

Not just my constituency but State: Dompok

January 23, Penampang: Member of Parliament Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the issue of the increased presence of foreigners in Donggongon raised by both his party and the opposition is not just confined to his parliamentary constituency alone but - in reality - the whole State.

"It should be addressed as a whole by the Government, that is the State Government and Federal Government working togetherÉthe presence of foreigners in this country has been a long-standing issue," he said.

Being the Minister for Plantation Industries and Commodities, Dompok said he had no objections to foreign workers coming to the State to work.

"But they must have proper documents like work passes and all these.

So illegal workers, illegal people, should not be in the streets, as they should be either repatriated or taken to the lock-up," he said.

Asked if there would be any action to flush out illegals from Donggongon, he said it is a standing policy of the Government but that it is a matter of implementation by the police, Immigration Department and local authority concerned.

Making his Chinese New Year rounds in Donggongon, Saturday, he said: "We (the government) provided the policy and that is the policy today.

Anybody who is illegally staying here should be either kept under lock or sent home to their respective country of originÉthis is all very clear, (but) it is just a matter of implementation."

Dompok also said he is unperturbed by reports that the opposition is making inroads in the district through highlighting various grievances.

He said he welcomed it but that it would be the people who decide in the end. "I think it is welcome.

Political activities tend to increase as the term rolls onÉmore than two years before the next election people are already politicking, I would say it is a season."

Dompok, who is United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) President and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, was asked to comment on opposition leaders going around actively in his constituency looking for problems faced the people to bring up through the media.

"They are very good at it (acting like elected representatives)Éfor us, we just do our work as we do normally and then the people in Penampang know what to do when the time comes."

Kapayan Assemblyman and Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Edward Khoo, and Moyog Assemblyman and Assistant Finance Minister, Datuk Donald Mojuntin, were also present.