221. wikiSabah on Project IC

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Sabah's locals 'immigrants' in their own land

Local Sabahan Bajau Encik Zaidi Atoh and other residents who are living in Kampung Likas, 10 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu, said they felt like "immigrants in their own land".

Even the Muslim residents said they feared for their children's safety when these foreigners move into their villages turning the area as a hub for drug trafficking and smuggling.

At Kampung Air, a shopping area located in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, a local taxi driver told that their earnings are affected when these Filipino and Indonesian drivers appeared in the area.

In Keningau, two hours traveling distance, the locals have to compete with these foreign migrants for business spaces/slots.

According to local activists, this is the result of Project IC, identity cards given to illegal immigrants through illegal means thus making Sabah crowded with migrants. A testimony from last year's Lahad Datu intrusion of which many of the 'foreign militants or intruders' held Mykad.

The project started by Umno as a dirty election tactic aimed at changing the demographics of Sabah increasing the muslim illegal immigrants to the population level of 38%.

Foreigners with MyKad are now competing with locals for business licenses and permits. Locals also expressed their displeasure when these foreigners are willing to bribe the authorities.

Local activist Jalumin Bayogoh said if the issue was not addressed seriously, the tension could turn into violence.

Genuine IC, false citizenship 

The Royal Commission of Inquiry findings revealed that Project IC took place in the 1980s and 1990s during its hearing held in January 2013.

Witnesses who were called during the inquiry mentioned top politicians and civil servants involved during the era of the reign of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Identity cards are simply given to Muslim immigrants, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia without going through legal channels to gain citizenship.

Dr Mahathir in his testimony held that citizenship granted to Filipino immigrants in Sabah were done legally.

A book published by Sabah Reform Party (STAR), "Borneo Agenda" claims of about 300,000 foreigners received identification cards.

"Now, they may consist of millions of immigrants who obtained Malaysian citizenship through the back door," said the author of the book, Neston Joannes.

He quoted former Sandakan, Asainar MP Ebrahim @ Hassnar who admitted participating in the project IC.

Nestor wrote that the project caused Sabah's population increase to 302% between 1970 and 2000. In comparison, Sarawak has a population of more than Sabah in 1970 recorded an increase of 106% of the population in the same period.

He said, foreigners are given identity cards so they could vote in the election.

"To strengthen the dominance of Umno in Sabah, they use foreigners with given ICs to be supporters of the party."

Jobs and neighborhoods invaded 

Chong, a taxi driver for 12 years witnessed how the car rental industry in Kota Kinabalu slowly taken over by Indonesian immigrants.

"Now all airport taxi driven and managed by the Bugis. Many of those waiting at hotels and shopping centres," he said.

In fact these immgrants even have permits and their names appear on the cab door, said Chong and two other drivers and Sapri Ahmad who told The Malaysian Insider.

Ahmad said that to get a taxi permit, a person must have an IC, driving license and at least $15,000 in savings in the bank. They said foreigners may be willing to use the "back door" to obtain a permit. While the locals refused to pay bribes to obtain the license.

In addition to the loss of jobs and businesses are concerned, the people of Sabah also felt immigrants seize everything at their disposal.

Zaidi, who was head of security and the development of Kampung Likas (JKKK) said local residents are not comfortable with the placement of foreigners who build their bases for smuggling along the river near their village.

He said, the river became the centre for smuggling cooking oil, cigarettes and drugs because it was used as the exit or entry point into Sabah.

"They are aggressive and breaking laws and can easily escape by boat back to to their hometowns if the police are on their heels.

"In the village there are also fights using weapons such as machetes and swords involving immigrants and their enemies. However, there are no reports of local people involved in such incidents. But we live in fear every day. My friend said as if we are 'immigrants' even though in our own country."

A Malaysia problem

Local activists believe 64,000 Filipinos with refugee status in the 1970s, were granted citizenship.

Jalumin from Borneo Heritage Foundation, said these refugees should be given special passes that allow their residents to find work and send their children to school.

"But it does not give them the right to vote. When their children go to school, we can teach them respect and be loyal to the country. "

Sabah BN leader Jahid Jahim said what was more disturbing for the people in the state were foreigners who were loyal to the militants/terrorists outside Malaysia.

This was even more disturbing when they are ready to kill Malaysians when receiving instructions from their group.

Jahim said initially, the government must re-register each person in Sabah and give the new IC.

This will help isolate the Malaysians and migrants. He is echoing SAPP's inaugural call/proposal for Sabah IC in their manifesto to solve the illegal immigrants issue.

"This problem is not just a matter of Malaysia Sabah," he said, which is also the Sabah United Party information chief.

Translated by JC from written article by Sheridan Mahavera in BM