PBS SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE IMMIGRATION PROBLEMS IN SABAH

There Is Merit In Calling For Royal Commission Of Inquiry, Says Pairin

PENAMPANG, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan asserted that there is merit in the suggestion that the Federal government set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate immigration problems in Sabah.

He said by having a commission, it showed the sincerity and transparency on the part of the government in tackling the state's immigrant problem once and for all.

"Everybody knows Sabah is grappling with illegal immigration for quite some time. Of course the people want to know how this problem came about and how to sort it out from all angles.

"That's why we in PBS support the formation of Royal Commission of Inquiry. In fact, this is nothing new. PBS had been fighting this for a long time," he told reporters when met at the PBS Chap Goh Mei celebration in conjunction with the Chinese New Year, here Thursday.

Pairin, who is Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, was asked to comment on the statement by Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein on Monday, rejecting a suggestion for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Sabah's immigrant problem.

Pairin said the call for the seting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry did not mean that the Federal government had not done anything to overcome the problems.

Acknowledging the government's efforts on this matter, he hoped for more practical and concrete solutions from the laboratory on illegal immigrants under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) soon.

On the issue of the "extraordinary growth" of the Sabah population by 500 per cent, Pairin said this needed to be investigated.

Yesterday, United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) youth leader, Arthur Sen, said according to the 1970 census, Sabah's total population was only 636,431 but had risen to 3,313,000 in 2005, saying "this extraordinary growth causes concern among the local population who feel their security is threathened by the influx of 'instant citizens' and immigrants".

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Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja Mengenai Pendatang Wajar Ditubuhkan, Kata Pairin

PENAMPANG, 17 Feb (Bernama) -- Presiden Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan pada Khamis berkata cadangan agar kerajaan persekutuan menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja mengenai masalah pendatang di Sabah adalah wajar.

Katanya penubuhan suruhanjaya itu akan mencerminkan keikhlasan dan ketelusan kerajaan dalam menangani masalah pendatang di negeri ini secara muktamad.

"Semua orang tahu Sabah bergelut dengan masalah pendatang sejak sekian lama. Sudah tentulah rakyat ingin tahu punca timbulnya masalah ini dan cara untuk mengatasinya daripada pelbagai sudut.

"Sebab itulah kami dalam PBS menyokong penubuhan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja ini. Malah, ini bukan perkara baru. PBS telah memperjuangkan perkara ini sejak lama dulu," katanya kepada pemberita pada majlis sambutan Chap Goh Meh PBS di sini.

Pairin, yang juga Timbalan Ketua Menteri, berkata demikian bagi mengulas kenyataan Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein pada Isnin mengenai penolakan penubuhan suruhanjaya itu.

Kata Pairin gesaan agar suruhanjaya itu ditubuhkan bukan bererti kerajaan persekutuan tidak mengambil sebarang langkah untuk menyelesaikan masalah berkenaan.

Sambil menghargai usaha yang telah dilaksanakan kerajaan, Pairin berkata beliau berharap makmal mengenai pendatang tanpa izin di bawah Bidang Keberhasilan Utama Negara (NKRA) akan menghasilkan penyelesaian praktikal dan konkrit berhubung masalah itu dengan segera.

Mengenai isu "pertumbuhan luar biasa" penduduk Sabah sebanyak 500 peratus, Pairin berkata perkara itu perlu disiasat.

Pada Rabu, ketua pemuda Pertubuhan Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Bersatu (UPKO) Arthur Sen berkata berdasarkan banci 1970, Sabah hanya mempunyai 636,431 penduduk dan apabila jumlah ini meningkat kepada 3.3 juta pada 2005, penduduk tempatan berasa terancam oleh kebanjiran "warganegara segera dan pendatang".