RCI SEEN AS ONLY LONG-TERM SOLUTION OTHERWISE FEAR OF ILLEGALS RUNNING SABAH MAY BECOME REALITY

RCI seen as only long-term solution

 

Kota Kinabalu Jan 05, 2012: One of the challenges Malaysia will continue to face is the threat of a continued influx of illegal immigrants as a result of a poorly managed foreign labour force, said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

"This is a real and serious problem affecting our economic, social and political rights,"

said Ongkili, who is also Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in his New Year message.

He said this concern could also be seen from the rampant allegations of foreigners holding citizenship status and that these issues surfaced in nearly all the public hearings conducted by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reform that was chaired by him.

Hence, he said Malaysia needed a tighter foreign labour policy, a more transparent approach to granting work passes, disciplined monitoring and surveillance programme and firm action against illegals in the country.

"Current action programmes are not yielding the desired results.

Furthermore allegations of foreigners having obtained citizenship papers and registered as voters are still persisting."

In this respect, Ongkili who is also Kota Marudu MP said the proposal by PBS as well as other Barisan Nasional component parties and the PSC to set up the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) should be seriously considered by the Federal Government.

"This is the only long-term solution to the illegal immigrant problem especially in Sabah. Of course, the RCI should not just investigate the past but must also deal with the present problem and specify clear action plans for the future.

"Otherwise, the fear that one day the foreign invaders in the form of illegals will run our society and political destiny may become a reality," he said.

He added that the government's efforts to rid Sabah and the whole country of this serious problem would need the people's full cooperation and support.

Earlier, Ongkili said Malaysians can look forward to 2012 to benefit further from the government's transformation programmes that are set to produce more results in achieving its goal to develop the nation in every aspect.

He said the year 2011 was a good year for Malaysia as the government's transformation programmes began to yield results in bringing about desirable outcomes for all segments of the society.

The transformation programmes encompass the Government Transformation Programme, Economic Transformation Programme, Rural Transformation Programme, Digital Transformation Programme and Political Transformation Programme through the abolition as well as amendments of outdated security laws.

"Results are in the form of increased foreign and domestic investments, higher employment, improved national income and better international rating for business competitiveness.

"These are proof that the transformation mission of the Prime Minister is already benefiting the nation and the people," he said.