SABAH IMMIGRATION POWER SHOULD CAN AND SHOULD BE USE TO DEPORT ILLEGALS & AH LONG

Bar Ah Long and illegals, not activist – SAPP

KOTA KINABALU Dec 10, 2011: The state authorities should take action against the Ah Long (loan sharks) from other states and illegal immigrants in Sabah instead of barring a NGO activist from entering the state, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Youth chief Edward Dagul.

He said the latest action in barring Haris Ibrahim, president of Malaysian Civil Rights Movement (MCLM), from entering Sabah has made many people ponder on the priorities of the authorities.

“Wouldn’t it be more beneficial for the people of Sabah if the relevant authorities, namely the Immigration Department stop along operatives from other states coming to Sabah or for that matter, to stop the influx of illegal immigrants entering the State?”

he said in a statement yesterday.

Edward said the reports in the local newspapers that three moneylending premises were being probed by police had confirmed the fear of SAPP.

He said SAPP had warned against the extension of the Money Lending Act 1951 in 2008 which arbitrarily replaced the Sabah Money Lenders Ordinance.

According to him, the authorities then had claimed that the extension of the Money Lenders Act would enable them (the authorities) to be able to tackle unhealthy lending activities, loan sharks etc. but what was reported in the local news suggests otherwise.

To many, if not all, in Sabah, the problems of alongs and illegal immigrants, are matters of State security.

These directly threaten the livelihood of the people and should be accorded top priorities whereas the barring of an NGO activist from entering Sabah under the lame excuse of state security is nothing more than an act of political cowardice.

“Haris Ibrahim is a well known, respected civil liberty activist whose Bersih and MCLM roles have received wide acclaim. There is no basis for barring him from the State. He was a guest at SabahTV.net and as such, we will continue to welcome him,” Edward said.

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Banning activist abuse of immigration power – Jeffrey

KOTA KINABALU Dec 10, 2011: The United Borneo Front (UBF) is strongly against the state’s decision to ban activist Harris Ibrahim from entering the state, saying it is a total abuse of immigration power.

In a statement here yesterday, UBF chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said it was outrageous to ban the entry of president of the Malaysian Civil Rights Movement (MCLM) supposedly due to security threats without further elaboration.

“Harris is only an activist promoting civil liberties and freedom of movement and speech which are rights guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

So how much threat can he create for the state? Is the movement for democracy also a threat?” he asked.

On Wednesday, Harris, a Malaysian blogger believed to be a close friend of well-known blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, was prevented from entering Sabah upon his arrival on AirAsia flight AK5106 at 3.10pm at Terminal 2 of Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the relevant authority could stop anyone from entering the state with valid reasons.

Sabah, he pointed out, welcomes visitors to the state but the Immigration Department will bar the entry of any individual(s) if there was a reason for it to do so.