Friday, February 27, 2015

Why no proper Sabah refugees data

Published on: Friday, February 27, 2015 http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=97413

Kota Kinabalu: There is no proper record on the status of refugees in Sabah due to the absence of a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office here.
"However, this doesn't mean that there are no refugees in Sabah. In fact, there are a lot of refugees in Sabah compared to other places and it is difficult for us to identify their status due to the lack of documentation," said Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) lecturer, Professor Dr Kamarulzaman Askandar.
According to him, it is important that the refugees are categorised based on their intentions of crossing the borders in terms of economic factors and conflict factors.
"In Sabah, there is a mixture of both as there is no specific data to indicate their intentions for entry. There were a lot of refugees entering Sabah in the 1970s and now because of the registration process they went through, most of them have acquired permanent resident status and identity cards," he said, adding that it is one of the reasons for the existence of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) issue.
Kamarulzaman also said that there are about 150,000 registered refugees in Malaysia eligible for repatriation to Third World countries.
He said this in his talk entitled "Sabah and the Safety Issues in South East Asia" during the "Borders and Safety in Sabah" seminar at the university here, Thursday.
He then elaborated on the aspect of conflict resulting in illegal crossing of the State's borders.
"There are three categories of conflicts. The first one would be conflict between nations. The second one would be conflict within the nation itself and finally, conflict that occurred in a country affecting other countries.
"The entry of refugees is what I meant by the impact of what happened in one country affecting another country based on human migration," he explained.
The neighbouring countries of Sabah have somehow had an impact on our State especially Southern Philippines due to its location and it always being chaotic due to the presence of conflicts.
"Therefore, we must look into these conflicts closely and understand them besides listening to the story each party has to tell.
"We cannot just look at the surface of the matter, rather we should go indepth with it. Sabahans, based on what I have observed, are tolerant with one another but somehow, underneath, there are things that caused them to feel dissatisfied and unhappy.
"And if this problem is not handled, well then it will turn into a bigger problem and things will be much more complicated in the future," he said.
According to him, it is also important for authorities to get approval from the people before any actions are taken because at the end of the day, people are the ones who will feel the impacts of the actions taken.
He also explained that Sabah is exposed to non-traditional security threats which involved internal issues that could be manipulated, resulting in a national threat.
"The threats are not coming from anywhere. It's coming from the State itself and it is of what we already have here," he said, explaining that traditional security threats are more about war between different nations.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Illegals with healthcare subsidy

'Locals' pay as foreigners at Sandakan Hospital

Published on: Thursday, February 26, 2015 http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=97381

Sandakan: The Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) in Sandakan has clarified, amidst a growing number of complaints in the media, that it has to strictly implement the Fees Act (Medical) for Foreigners 1951 (2014 amendment).
In the absence of proper documents, those claiming to be "locals" will be charged at the higher rate for foreigners under the Act. HDOK director Dr. Francis Paul explained that the hospital staff will have to do their job according to the law.
"This is not a rule or regulation, but the law that we are talking about," he said. "The amendment to the Fees Act (medical) for Foreigners 1951 was implemented beginning this year and it is stated clearly that only locals with full self-identification would be charged the Malaysian rate." Hospital staff do not have the authorisation to determine whether or not one is a Malaysian without proper documents, he added.
"It is not fair for us to be asked to decide if the patient is a local if he or she does not provide proper self-identification documents. We only require the IC (MyKad) for adults and the birth certificate for children."
Francis, continuing, said the hospital had explained to the public affected, especially parents, that applying for self-identification documents and having it in their possession is their responsibility.
"They cannot blame the hospital for adhering to the law when it is their responsibility to have proper self-identification documents with them."
Francis said exceptions could be given based on the seriousness of the patient's health condition if the necessary documents are not produced to apply for the local rate for fees. "I am the only one who is authorized to decide whether or not one should be getting treatment before making payment as I will also be the one to answer when we are audited," he said.
The hospital staff, stressed Francis, have been directed to be strict on nationality given numerous cases where foreigners had used the identification documents of locals to get treatment at the Malaysian rate.
Children aged 12 years old and below will only enjoy the lower local rate i.e. a token RM1 per outpatient treatment if they have MyKid or birth certificates. Those above 12 years old have to present their MyKad (IC) at the registration counter before the doctor attends to them.
Otherwise, in the absence of such documentation, even those who claim to be "locals" will have to pay the higher rate charged foreigners under the Act. "Locals" who registered for birth certificates later than 14 days after birth, and those who have not applied for MyKad after 12 years old, are charged the non-Malaysian rate.
Apparently, it's not good enough to present official letters even from the court that their self-identification documents are still being processed by the National Registration Department (NRD).
Foreigners, under the amended Act effective January this year, have to pay RM68 per treatment, up from the previous RM50. Effective 2018, there would no longer be subsidies for foreigners, and they would have to fork out the full RM 100 per outpatient treatment. This excludes specialist consultation or hospitalization.
Illegal immigrants and other foreigners in Sabah have been enjoying healthcare subsidy since 1951.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

273. Read up all the missing more than 5000 pages in the RCIIIS report...to find the solutions

If we need to compile a complete report, it should be 10,000 pages hence RCIIIS has wasted tens of millions of Ringgit of public fund and a lot of concerned citizens' time.. Joshua

Working Committee on illegals holds first meeting

Posted on February 18, 2015, Wednesday

KOTA KINABALU: Those who have any recommendations, ideas or suggestions on how to resolve the issues on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah are invited to submit them to the Working Committee on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah’s secretariat.
Committee chairman Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the recommendations, ideas or suggestions can be sent in writing to the secretariat which is located at the Chief Minister’s Department.
The secretariat is jointly headed by State Secretary Tan Sri Sukari Wakiman and State Federal Secretary Datuk Borhan Dolah.
“We will scrutinize the recommendations, proposals and ideas in order to find ways to resolve the problem of the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah,” Pairin told a press conference after chairing the working committee’s first meeting in Wisma Innoprise here yesterday.
“During the meeting we went through the five Terms of Reference recommended by the RCI and made a few amendments to the first Term of Reference,” he said, adding that with the meeting yesterday it would put to rest doubts on the committee’s existence.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that recommendations from all quarters such as NGOs, political parties and individuals are welcomed and would be discussed by the committee during its monthly meetings.
He also said that the committee was in the process of formulating an action plan towards the resolution of the problem, hence it is still open to any input from all quarters.
“We have a few proposals in mind and if there is any need, we may call some of the individuals, NGOs or political parties to meet with the committee to brief or clarify their recommendations, proposals or ideas,” he said.
Pairin added that the committee hoped to be able to complete its duties by the end of the year in line with the target of achieving the status of zero illegal immigrants by 2020.
When asked to comment on requests for NGOs and opposition parties’ representatives to be included as members of the committee, Pairin said that as all those interested to help resolve the problem can submit their input, there is no need for it.
“We will call any of them who are interested to forward their views (so there is) no need for them to be permanent members but we would like to meet up with them to talk about it. We are not here to prevent anybody to come forward with the suggestions as we welcome all the input,” he stressed.
Pairin added that although the committee was in the process of gathering the input needed, operation by security forces and enforcement agencies would still be ongoing so as to prevent more illegal immigrants from entering the state.
Members of the Working Committee on the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah’s Working Committee include the Home Ministry’s Deputy Chief Secretary, directors of both the National Registration and Immigration Departments, Police Commissioner of Sabah, Sabah Attorney General, state Immigration and National Registration Departments’ directors, ESSCom director and the state government’s Internal Affairs and Research secretary.

The Working Committee,there are five (5) ToRs )

namely (1) Scrutinise and study the RCI's findings and its issues for the purpose of future improvement

(2) Study public feedback and complaints as well as opinions on the management of foreigners in Sabah

(3) Study implementation on the management of foreigners in Sabah

(4) Submitting recommendations on the position of foreigners based on existing laws and regulations and

(5) Preparing an action plan to resolve the problems of foreigners in terms of social,economy,security and other aspects.

As for the Permanent Committee chaired jointly by the Home Minister and Chief Minister,there are three terms of reference (ToRs) namely (1) Study all recommendations and proposals submitted by the working Committee for further improvements (3) Recognise and verify those recommendations and proposals to be discussed and considered in the State and Federal Cabinets for implementation and (3) Monitor implementation of the Cabinet's decisions over the recommendations and proposals.

Terms of reference (TOR)

1. To determine the number of immigrants in Sabah that have been given blue identity cards or identity cards or citizenship and if so whether these documents or citizenship was done legally.

2. To investigate whether the issuance of blue identity cards or citizenship to immigrants in Sabah was in accordance with the law.

3. To investigate whether immigrants in Sabah holding blue identity cards, temporary identification receipts (blue) or citizenship documents had been illegally registered into the electoral rolls.

4. To probe whether the authorities had taken any action or carried out any improvements to standard operating procedures (SOP), measures and regulations to avoid any infringement of the law.

5. To investigate in detail the SOP, measures and regulations relating to the issuance of blue identity cards or citizenship to immigrants in Sabah by taking into account international standards and norms used in Malaysia and to recommend any amendments or changes to strengthen or improve the SOP, measures and regulations.

6.     To investigate the reasons for the increase in Sabah's population in the following categories:
i)   Sabahans living in the state, including those accorded blue identity cards and citizenship
     through late registration of birth;
ii)  foreign workers (including their families);
iii) illegal immigrants (including their families);
iv) refugees;

and their impact on the electoral roll.

7. To investigate the social implications of the issuance of blue identity cards or citizenship to immigrants in the state on Sabahans.

8. To determine the number of foreigners in Sabah who have been given blue identity cards or citizenship by taking into account their stateless status.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

272. Go for the Project IC holders as well

Not protecting Immigration crooks

Published on: Thursday, February 12, 2015 Daily Express

Kota Kinabalu: Immigration staff implicated in the visa-for-money scandal being investigated by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) should not expect any sympathy from their bosses. They are on their own.
If found complicit, they will have to bear the full brunt of the law, warned Immigration Director-General Datuk Mustafa Ibrahim (pic), revealing to the Daily Express that such goings-on in this particular case only came to light recently.
"We will not protect them in any way," he said, pointing out that only those who are cleared of wrongdoing will be welcomed back.
As of Tuesday, some 23 suspects – eight of them immigration officers – were pulled in for questioning after it was discovered that quite a number of Pakistanis had been obtaining long term social visit passes fraudulently for as much as RM11,000 each via citing fake brides so as to stay on in the State.
One of the immigration officers was released on Monday.
The remaining suspects in custody are Pakistanis, the latest five, aged between 25 and 40, were picked up in Papar and remanded Wednesday.
"Action must be taken against those who have been proven to have committed crime. But I also believe the MACC will go after those who bribed the officers," he said.
He explained that social visit passes have expiry dates and those who have obtained the passes through dubious means could easily be detected when they attempt to renew these passes at the immigration counter.
Even if they attempt to renew online, the department would be able to detect them.
To a question on the whereabouts of the Pakistanis, he said he believed they are still in Sabah and once the department had identified them, they would be blacklisted.
"I wish to remind immigration officers and staff not to do any hanky panky or get themselves involved with corruption. I never denied that the public's perception towards my officers and staff is sometimes very low.
"I implore the public to change their perception and if it is proven that my officers or staff have done something wrong, come forward with evidence.
"I do not want the name of this department tarnished because of a few bad apples and I, as the Director General, will do my best to be fair and just," he said.
He denied that the immigration laws, sometimes described as too rigid, should be blamed for the scandal.
Instead, he pinned it on the attitude of some officers as well as customers who have instilled the culture of corruption as a shortcut to obtain something without going through the normal process.
So far, he said, there is no evidence that those in higher positions were involved in the scandal.
The scam first came to light last week when four immigration officers and a woman clerk were arrested in Lahad Datu following complaints that Pakistanis have been getting dubious long-term social visit passes to stay in the State.
During the initial arrest, the MACC confiscated two cheques for RM175,000 and RM7,500 during a raid on the suspects' house. MACC also seized cash amounting to RM50,000 from another house and several related files from the Lahad Datu immigration office for investigation.
According to an MACC spokesperson, it has caught most of the main culprits and is now tracing those who had engaged their services to obtain the long-term social visit passes and that those involved have been making millions of ringgit as it has been going on for some time.
Most of the officers picked up for questioning were Sabahan officers although it was reliably learnt that among them was a married couple from the peninsula but based in the State.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

271. If Dr Chong En Leong is OK at the RCIIIS, Musa Aman must be DEAD.

Musa Aman is the traitor as he said it so clear---
Quote ---
According to Musa, the act of bringing in illegal immigrants, providing them employment and harbouring them at their premises, could be construed as acts of sabotage against the government’s national agenda.

Sabah Master Migrant Management Committee has set two priorities: Musa
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the Sabah Master Committee on Migrant Management today set two priorities to combat the issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah.
Musa who is also chairman of the permanent committee which was set up following the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on illegal immigrants in Sabah said one of the aspects was to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants into Sabah through tighter and more effective control at the border.
The second aspect said Musa was to repatriate illegal immigrants by empowering enforcement and to expedite the process of repatriation by obtaining the cooperation of the foreigner’s country of origin.
“At the same time, I want to take the opportunity to remind all parties to give their full cooperation to the government’s efforts. We do not want any parties to undermine the country in our effort to combat illegal immigrants,” he told reporters after chairing the first committee here, today.
Present were Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is the joint-chairman and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
According to Musa, the act of bringing in illegal immigrants, providing them employment and harbouring them at their premises, could be construed as acts of sabotage against the government’s national agenda.
He said enforcement agencies had been given the mandate to not compromise and to act firmly against employers, protectors and syndicates found infringing the law.
According to Musa, since January this year, 18 employers were arrested under the related offences and 12 of them had been issued compounds while six others were charged in court.
“The people have been urged to give their cooperation and not to undermine the operation of enforcement personnel in safeguarding the interests of the people,” he said.-Bernama

270. Project IC holders are not concerned by the rotten leaders..

Pairin recommends special IC

| Wednesday - February 11th, 2015

Zahid (second left) handing over the letter of appointment to Pairin during the meeting yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU: A re-registration of Sabahan Malaysians with the issuance of a special identity card was among the recommended action plans cited by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan upon receiving his appointment letter as chairman of the working committee on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah yesterday.
While the idea of a special identification card for local Sabahans was not new, having previously been brought up by politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties, Pairin said the re-registration of Sabahans would stress on filtering immigrants illegals and those with refugee status, from locals.
We need to distinguish between locals and immigrants, which then get narrowed down to separating between refugees and illegal immigrants, and those without valid working passes or passports. These are the ones that we want deported, he said.
Pairin was speaking to reporters after a meeting with Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Le Meridien here yesterday, where Pairin received the official letter of appointment as the chairman of the working committee.
The committees first meeting after receiving the long-awaited official letter of appointment will be on February 17.
Pairin, however, said the committee had met with senior officers of the Home Ministry on January 8 to discuss on matters pertaining to the issue.
One of the ideas proposed by the committee, he said, was to allow and take into consideration the ideas and suggestions put out by all parties, including politicians, NGOs and the public at large.
I have yet to receive any (suggestions or ideas) since I made that proposal, but I have been gathering relevant news extracts and statements from all parties, be they political or NGOs. We will take all these into account for more in-depth discussions on the matter, he said.
Pairin disclosed that the committees secretariat would be based at the Chief Ministers Department, as that is where the State Secretary, who has been appointed as one of the main secretaries, is based.
A draft cover and content framework of the report for the committees meeting had been outlined, but will continuously make space for additional ideas hoped to be obtained from various parties through discussions.
We have taken the initial steps needed to ensure that the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the RCI on illegal immigrants are realised. This is how serious the government is in solving the issue (of illegal immigrants) in the state, he said.
Pairin stressed that the enforcement of laws above the cooperation of all parties is the most important in determining the results of the action plan lined out by the committee.
We have existing immigration laws embedded within the Constitution, so we want enforcers to enforce their duties, he stressed.
Pairin said the plan would be a continuous effort, encouraging contribution of ideas from all parties.
Anybody who wishes to be involved, directly or indirectly, we welcome any ideas or suggestions with good intentions, he said.
Accepting a statement recently by the director-general of Immigration on the call to eradicate illegal immigrants by 2020 as a responsibility, Pairin considered it a good sign of commitment on the part of the Immigration Department.
He added that the issue of stateless children would also be included in the action plan of the working committee, although ultimately, it would involve enforcement of international law.
Yes, it will be included because it is also the result of the illegal immigrants issue in the first place. International laws will need to be enforced, in a way that the nationality of a child is determined by the nationality of his or her father, he said, adding that no detailed information was currently available until the committees next meeting on February 17.
Pairin also mooted a one-stop detention centre to overcome the problems of currently having scattered detention centres in the state.
Asked whether he felt the idea of an illegal immigrant-free state by 2020 achievable, Pairin admitted the complexity of the issue rendering the mission challenging.
Its a very complex issue. However, I appreciate the commitment that had been shown and we all need to work hard to accomplish the mission.
If there is something that we need to do to ensure that our state is free from illegal immigrants in two years, that will be great but everybody needs to move towards that direction to help overcome the issue.
We know it wont be easy but with the appointment, I have been given the trust, and I will do my best to achieve the target, he said.