| May 28, 2008 |
KOTA KINABALU, May 28 (Bernama) -- The setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah does not guarantee that the problem will be solved.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the Royal Commission of Inquiry was only one of the options available to try solve the issue. "Any option taken must meet its intended objective, which is to get rid of illegal immigrants from the state.
"Any approach taken must also be sincere, not just a tool for the opposition to gain political mileage," he told reporters after chairing the state cabinet meeting at Wisma Innoprise, near here, Wednesday.
Musa said the state government believed the problem could be solved through systematic and coordinated enforcement by the relevant authorities, namely the police and armed forces, Special Task Force, Immigration and National Registration Departments as well as the cooperation of the Philippines and Indonesia.
"Witch-hunting or finger-pointing will not solve the problem. What is needed is concerted efforts by the relevant authorities.
"It must also be stated that just because the capture and repatriation of illegals are not widely publicised, the public, especially the opposition, perceive that the government is not taking any action to solve the problem. Of course, the opposition spreads this perception to gain political mileage," he said.
Musa said employers of migrant workers and landlords must also be responsible and ensure that their workers and tenants were of legal status.
"We also want the governments of the Philippines and Indonesia to be responsible and extend their cooperation to Malaysia in the deportation of their nationals," he said.
In this respect, Musa hoped the Philippine government would set up its consulate in Sabah to help address the problem. Indonesia has already established its consulate in Kota Kinabalu.
He said the government was taking a comprehensive approach in tackling the problem, including increased surveillance at the borders, thus helping to curb the entry of illegals from neighbouring countries.
He said the presence of surveillance posts on surrounding islands had also succeeded in reducing piracy in Sabah waters.
"I have also asked the military joint forces to inform the public on the security measures taken, including the setting up of surveillance radars along the east coast to monitor our waters."
Musa said the arrest of illegal immigrants was ongoing and in 2007 alone, 26,332 illegals were captured and 18,707 deported, and up to March this year, 5,256 were nabbed and 4,089 repatriated.
It is estimated that there are 440,000 foreigners in Sabah, out of whom 230,000 are legal migrant workers, 80,000 Filipino refugees and 130,000 illegals.
Musa said the problem stemmed from migrant workers who came in legally in the beginning but did not return home after their work permits expired.
He said the state government would recommend that the Labour Department be included during operations against illegal immigrants, adding that those caught employing migrant workers illegally, be subjected to a RM10,000 fine or jail term of not more than six months.
-- BERNAMA
