137. 'Immigrants determine election outcome in Sabah'

June, 19, 2013 - 8:18 pm

Sabah RCI: ‘Immigrants determine election outcome’

TIME TO GO: Bumburing attended State Assembly this morning and later rushed off for his appointment with the Sabah RCI. – Borneo Insider photo by Edward James

KOTA KINABALU: The illegal granting of citizenship to massive numbers of foreigners in Sabah has enabled immigrants to determine the nature of the state politics, veteran Sabah politician Wilfred Bumburing said today.
“If you look at the statistical election results in certain constituencies, the presence of illegal immigrants determines the outcome of the election,” Wilfred told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into immigrants in Sabah in Kota Kinabalu today.
Wilfred (photo), who is also Tamparuli assemblyperson, said one example could be discerned in the parliamentary constituency of Batu Sapi.
“It is very clear there that the immigrants there have overwhelmed the local voters,” he said.
Wilfred, who has been in politics since 1985, said in the past, Muslim bumiputera and non-Muslim bumiputera in Sabah were in equal numbers.
However, this balance has been tilted through the illegal granting of citizenship status to Muslim immigrants.
“Last time the proportion in the state assembly was 20 non-Muslim bumiputera, 20 Muslim bumiputera and eight Chinese.
“Now, it has become 18 non-Muslim bumiputera, 34 Muslim bumiputera and eight Chinese seats,” said the former BN politician who is now pro-Pakatan Rakyat.
Wilfred said he had raised this matter when he was the BN’s Tuaran MP, but was brushed off by the Home Ministry.
‘Government knows the ICs given illegally’

Steve Shim (right) with Commissioner Henry Chin.

He then echoed calls from the Sabah-based BN parties, such as PBS and Upko, for all identity cards issued in the state to be revoked and reissued.
However, when pressed by Steve Shim, the former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak who heads the RCI, on a mechanism for such a move, Wilfred insisted that it was the government that had the answer.
“The government knows which identity cards were given illegally.
“If the commission can compel the government to reveal them, then a large part of it is solved,” Wilfred said.
However, this did not mean that non-citizens who had stayed in Sabah for decades were to be expelled, he said, adding that they should be given permanent residency while their status was sorted out on a case-by-case basis.
He also submitted a memorandum containing research and evidence on the alleged illegal granting of citizenship to the RCI.
Wilfred, who was Upko deputy president and Tuaran MP, quit Upko last year and gave his backing to Pakatan Rakyat.
He failed to defend his Tuaran seat in last month’s general election but won the state seat of Tamparuli.
’140k squatters in Sabah’

Also taking the stand today was Sabah Local Government and Housing Ministry Planning and Coordination Unit assistant secretary Hadzlan Jablee.
He testified that of February this year, there were a total of 140,499 squatters across Sabah in 35,957 illegal houses.
“The data is 90 per cent complete with the exception of seven districts which did not submit data but they have few or no squatter areas,” he said.
Hadzlan conceded that the squatter was a magnet for illegal immigrants but said there is a plan to clear the squatters and relocate Malaysian citizens there into public housings.
“But for the non-citizens there we will leave it to other agencies,” he said.
A total of 10 witnesses testified at the RCI today and a total of 128 people have taken the stand since hearings began in January.

Related stories:

• RCI: Steep spike in voters on Sabah roll in 80s, 90
• 'People on Sabah RCI illegal IC list voting in Klang'
• Api Api independent sues EC for dubious electoral rolls
• Govt, well-being, economy, solidarity forms essence of PR Sabah manifesto

136. code 71

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

http://wikisabah.blogspot.com/2013/06/suluk-leader-claims-pkr-rep-indonesian.html

Sabah RCI: Suluk leader claims PKR rep an Indonesian immigrant

An argument broke out at the hearing of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah today as a Suluk community leader repeatedly insisted that an opposition state assemblyperson was born in Indonesia.

Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto claimed that although PKR’s Christina Liew (left) was born in Indonesia, she managed to go on to become the Api-Api assemblyperson.

"I got this information from the Indonesians in Tawau, they confirmed that she is Chinese Indonesian, but went on to become a leader of the opposition.

"I brought this up because people only target the Bajaus and Suluks when it comes to the RCI... Don't only target one or two ethnic groups," he said.

At this, one of the RCI's commissioner Henry Chin said he was certain that Liew was born in Tawau, Sabah as he was the OCPD of that district at that time.

"Liew's parents were from Hong Kong and she was born in Tawau, and when they grew up she married an Indonesian.

"Your information is incorrect because I know her family when I served as OCPD of Tawau and I know she was born at Tawau hospital," he said.

Information 'hearsay'

However, Mohd Zaki was adamant that Liew was from Indonesia and had changed her name when she supposedly arrived from Indonesia.

"It could be that she was not born here but her birth certificate was done through late registration.

"I'm bringing this up because the people in Tawau told me," he said.

However, Chin stressed that he had to clarify the fact as Mohd Zaki's information was hearsay.

"You only heard about it, but you cannot verify that information," said Chin.

Liew was elected as Api-Api assemblyperson in last month’s general election and was chosen as the new opposition whip.

Mohd Zaki, who is former secretary-general of Persatuan Rumpun Etnik Suluk Sabah, was queried at the RCI on whether his organisation had helped Suluks in Sabah to illegally obtain citizenship.

However, Mohd Zaki who is also a former police officer, denied this, stating that all of its members were Malaysian citizens.

Nigel Aw

135. RCI on Sabah illegals: Problem lies with integrity of enforcers - UPKO

RCI on Sabah illegals: Problem lies with integrity of enforcers - UPKO < Prev  Next > Posted By: ywloke Tue Jun 18, 2013 1:37 pm  | Options

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/6/18/nation/20130618183101&sec=n\ ation Updated: Tuesday June 18, 2013 MYT 6:52:06 PM RCI on Sabah illegals: Problem lies with integrity of enforcers, says Upko By STEPHANIE LEE KOTA KINABALU: The lack of integrity shown by enforcement officers is among the main contributors to the problem of illegal foreigners in Sabah, said United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) secretary general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau. He told the Commission of Inquiry on the illegals in the state that from information he gained during his tenure at the Institute of Development Studies in the 1980s, it was clear that integrity among enforcement personnel on the ground was lacking. "Thus the problem has to be resolved by resetting the whole system, recalling all documents from the people in Sabah," he said. "The lack of integrity results in this never-ending problem and even with coming up with 'methods' to resolve it, it is still there because there is no integrity (for example) in the National Registration Department and Immigration Department," he added. Wilfred said the party's president, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, would give a more detailed suggestion on how to "reset" the system, and how to recall and re-issue identity cards to genuine Sabahans. Earlier, Wilfred quoted excerpts from the book 'The Harris Salleh of Sabah' and what he (Harris) said about how the government was keeping an eye on PBS and will do everything to ensure the rights of the Muslims were protected. As to the truth of the statement, which was made around 1987, he said it was up to the authorities to find out and let the people know. "Apart from that, there was a man, Hassnar Ibrahim, who said he knew what happened during the issuance of ICs as he was directly involved in it and he could name names," Wilfred said. "I think Hassnar should be called in as a witness in this inquiry as he is the key witness to what this thing is all about," he said. Wilfred said he was never satisfied with the explanation given on how the population of Sabah jumped so drastically, especially in the 80s and 90s, and would continue to ask for a satisfying respond as long as it takes. "This issue had been brought up in Parliament many times and in 2006, I proposed for a Commission of Inquiry to probe into it but was rejected," he said. "Explanation such as 'Sabahans are fertile' and 'villagers in the interiors gradually gained access to information and infrastructure and could come out of their village to vote or register as voters', are not acceptable," he said. ____ http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=115472:im\ migrants-willingness-to-pay-more-led-to-ic-forgery-syndicates-sabah-rci-told&Ite\ mid=2 Immigrants' willingness to pay more led to IC forgery syndicates - Sabah RCI told Tuesday, 18 June 2013 08:46 llegal immigrants' willingness to pay any amount to obtain a Malaysian identity card (IC) led to the existence of IC forgery syndicates in Sabah, the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah was told today. University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) senior lecturer of social sciences Dr Dayang Suria Mulia said obtaining an IC was the immigrants strategy for survival in Sabah and they were willing to pay a large sum for it. "They feel that having a Malaysian IC could facilitate them here as there are a lot of advantages of having an IC," she said. Dayang Suria also said the immigrants had relatives in Sabah which made it easier for them to make the transition here. She explained these relatives would help mitigate their security when entering the state through illegal channels. Dayang Suria also found in her study on undocumented immigrants in 1999 that there were those who felt being undocumented allowed them the flexibility to change jobs. She said if a foreign worker had a permit to work in the plantation sector, if he were to change to a different sector, he would have to register for a new work permit. "What I found interesting (in the study), no matter how stringent the law was on them, there were those who were not worried, there were those who were not afraid (of the law). Some preferred to be undocumented," she said. Dayang Suria also pointed out that industries in Sabah, particularly in the plantation and manufacturing sectors, depended highly on the supply of foreign workers. She explained that due to the fact that the locals were not willing to venture into doing hard labour, employers resorted to outsourcing agencies in order to meet their demands. Asked by conducting officer Datuk Azmi Ariffin if the industries would be paralysed without the support of foreign workers, Dayang Suria said the industries would be weakened rather than paralysed because it would affect productivity. Meanwhile, Sabah Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DPPIMS) member Mohd Ansar Maidin denied allegations by a blog last year that DPPIMS was involved in obtaining Malaysian citizenship for illegal immigrants. He said DPPIMS members made arrangements to obtain work permits for their foreign workers, but not assist them obtain citizenship. The inquiry is led by former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong. Also on the panel are former UMS vice chancellor Datuk Dr Kamaruzzaman Ampon, former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu, former Sabah state secretary Datuk KY Mustapha and former deputy chief minister and former Sabah deputy chief minister Tan Sri Herman J Luping, who was also former state attorney-general. The inquiry resumes tomorrow afternoon. - Bernama ____ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/233261 Ex-CM admitted KL can alter Sabah demography, RCI told Nigel Aw 5:31PM Jun 18, 2013 [extract] SABAH RCI Former Sabah chief minister Harris Salleh once admitted that the federal government was capable of altering Sabah's demography in its favour if the then PBS-led state government did not toe its line. Harris made this admission in a 1986 book titled 'Harris Salleh of Sabah' written by Paul Raffaele, Upko secretary-general Wilfred Madius Tangau told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah in Kota Kinabalu today. Reading from the book, which is no longer published locally, Wilfred quoted Harris as saying that Kuala Lumpur would ensure the rights of Malays in Sabah were protected and would intervene if the PBS-led government took matters into its own hands. "The federal government can register any of the refugees in three hours, three days, three months or three years. "There is no law stating the time and if the federal government wanted to alter forever the voting patterns of Sabah, then it can do as easily as assigning the papers. "Already in Kudat, a PBS area now, over 3,000 Filipinos have their ICs and when they are registered to vote, the assembly seat will be Usno's for the rest of this century at least. "The same pattern could be repeated all over Sabah so that the Kadazans become a small minority," Wilfred quoted Harris as saying in the book. PBS, perceived as a non-Muslim bumiputera party, came to power in 1985 after it broke away from the ruling incumbent Berjaya, a BN component party. Berjaya merged with Usno in 1990 to form Sabah Umno and as part of the BN coalition in the state, it toppled the PBS-led state government in 1994 through defections, after PBS narrowly won in the state election that year. [...] ____ Gov't answers on population boom 'unsatisfactory' - UPKO http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/233277 ____ http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=956969 Water Villages Seen As High Risk For Security Threats, RCI Told KOTA KINABALU, June 18 (Bernama) -- Water villages in Sabah, especially in the east coast of the state, were seen as high risk areas for security threats, the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah was told Tuesday. University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) senior lecturer of social sciences Wan Shabaruddin Wan Hassan said a study done from 2002 till 2005 on impacts on security due to the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah found those immigrants, especially from southern Philippines, preferred to settle at water villages as was the norm in their native country. "In our observation, water villages are seen as dangerous as these villages have become nests for illegal activities, including arms smuggling which police say was not unusual. "During our visit to a water village in Lahad Datu, we also came across circulation of counterfeit money in Malaysian Ringgit which was widely used there," he said. Wan Shabaruddin, who teaches foreign policies, said petty crimes such as thievery was common at the water villages as in the southern Philippines, it was believed anything one owned also belonged to another. He suggested that the government monitor and register residents at all water villages rather than tearing the villages down as Malaysian citizens also resided there. Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau told the inquiry that there was a need to review the issuance of identity cards (IC) in Sabah. Madius, who is also United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) Secretary-General, suggested the recalling of ICs in Sabah and reissue to those with birth certificates in order to identify those who were genuine Malaysian citizens. The inquiry is led by former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong. Also on the panel are former UMS vice chancellor Datuk Dr Kamaruzzaman Ampon, former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu, former Sabah state secretary Datuk KY Mustapha and former deputy chief minister Tan Sri Herman J Luping, who is also former state attorney-general. The inquiry continues tomorrow. -- BERNAMA ____ 'Threats from water villages before massacre of cops' http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/233172 Sabah state assembly: Sulu incursion nothing to do with sultanate claim, says Musa http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/6/18/nation/20130618144951&sec=n\ ation

134. THREATS FROM WATER VILLAGES BEFORE MASSACRE

What has anything to do on the RCI and the Invasion at Tanduoa?  So they are linked!!!!  Joshua



http://sabahkini.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19416:threats-from-water-villages-before-massacre&catid=40:laporan-khas&Itemid=49

THREATS FROM WATER VILLAGES BEFORE MASSACRE

Written by Admin
Monday, 17 June 2013 20:50
0 Komen and 0 Reaksi                                       KOTA KINABALU: The Semporna Municipal Council faced threats from the water villages under its jurisdiction, including Kampung Sri Jaya where six police officers were killed during the incursion by Sulu militants in March. “We faced criminal threats,” Semporna municipal council assistant executive officer Mustapha Elias Sulai told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants today. Mustapha said that as of 2010, there were 33,983 people living in 18 such water villages. Slightly more than half of the population, he said, comprised foreigners from the Philippines, while a number of them were from Indonesia. The water villagesare made up of wooden houses built on stilts over water and the authorities have very little presence or control there. Police entered Kampung Sri Jaya and Kampung Siminul during the beginning of the Sulu incursion, which was launched from the Philippines, and were ambushed, resulting in the death of six of their men. Mustapha admitted that the local authorities had not taken any step to demolish the water villages but added that in light of the massacre, there were now plans to relocate the villages. “They villages are also an eyesore and there are issues of diseases,” he said. Also taking the stand was 48-year-old Said Daud, a Bajau who possessed IMM13, a document for refugees from the Philippines. ‘We’re angry about Sulu incursion’ Said who is a village chief in Kiam Sam, Labuan said a majority of his village comprised of Bajau and Sulu immigrants. Asked about sentiments about the Sulu in his village, in relation to the recent incursion, Said, who came to Sabah from the Philippines in 1980, said his people were angry about it. “We in Labuan do not support the incursion, we are angry with them. “We have lived a good life here for a long time, our children go to school and some are even working for the government. “We live a good life because of the Malaysian government, we will not support them (intruders),” he said. A total of nine witnesses took the stand at the fifth RCI hearing in Kota Kinabalu today. So far 116 witnesses have testified since the hearing commenced in January. (BI)

133. Indian immigrant becomes Rela member, received BR1M, RCI told

Indian immigrant becomes Rela member, received BR1M, RCI told

http://my.news.yahoo.com/indian-immigrant-becomes-rela-member-received-br1m-rci-101450146.html

By Mohd Farhan Darwis

An Indian immigrant, Peer Mohamad Kadir, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry today that it took him only two years to obtain a local identification card (IC) after arriving in Malaysia in 1984.
Aged 24 then, Peer told the inquiry, specially convened to examine the issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah, that after having failed twice in his quest to obtain an IC, he finally got one in 1986 with the help of his uncle, after applying at the National Registration Department (NRD) in Kota Marudu, Sabah.
Peer, who is also an Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Rela) member, said that he had also voted in five general elections, including several by-elections and is also a recipient of the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) of RM500.
"I was given a form but I did not know how to fill it... it was all done by my uncle," Chennai-born Peer, 54, testified when questioned by an RCI officer at the Kota Kinabalu High Court in the Sabah state capital.
"I was ordered to pay stamp duty of RM20. I have all the declaration letters... my uncle handled it all," said Peer, who also does not possess a birth certificate and nor has his parents' details registered in the NRD database.
When questioned by RCI officer Jamil Aripin that his (Peer's) original place of birth and that which is printed on his IC differs, the former public relations officer with the Sabah Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DPPIMS) said he was unaware of the matter and did not realise that he had obtained his IC illegally .
"Do you agree that your IC was obtained through illegal means?" Jamil questioned.
"I am unable to answer that," replied Peer, who had also cast his vote in the 2013 Likas by-election.
Peer was the ninth and final witness for the day. Since the RCI commenced in January, 116 witnesses have given statements with regards to the issuing of ICs to illegal immigrants in Sabah in the 1980s. - June 17, 2013.

132. 'Illegal immigrants obtained M'sian papers in Philippines'

'Illegal immigrants obtained M'sian papers in Philippines'

http://my.news.yahoo.com/illegal-immigrants-obtained-msian-papers-philippines-073603178.html

SABAH RCI The royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah today heard that illegal immigrants had been able to obtain Malaysian documentation even while they were in the Philippines.

Macarius Sabinus - a field officer tasked with registering illegal immigrants in Sabah and issuing temporary receipts ( kad burung-burung ) to them - discovered they had obtained the document in Bongoa, Tawi-Tawi, even before he had registered them.
"When they came for registration, they already had the kad burung-burung in their hand, saying that they got them from somebody in Bongoa.
"But the receipt's had a different serial number and the Chief Minister's Department's (JKM) stamp is different from ours," said Macarius, who is a researcher with think-tank Institute for Development Studies (Sabah) or IDS, under the state JKM.
IDS - formerly known as Institute for Public Policy Analysis (IPPA) - had been tasked with a large scale registration of illegal immigrants in Sabah from 1986 to 1988.
The project aimed to identify and find out the total number of illegal immigrants in Sabah, said Macarius.
The kad burung-burung acted as a receipt to acknowledge that the illegal immigrants had been registered, but is not considered as an identification document.
'Illegal immigrants had blue ICs'
During that time, Macarius said, some of the illegal immigrants who came forward to register already had blue identity cards or National Registration Department (NRD) receipts, a document issued prior to a blue identity card and carries the same status of that of a citizen.
"We were instructed to register them as long as they did not have valid blue identity cards.
"We still registered them (as illegal immigrants) because they claimed that they got the (identity) card from somewhere else and not from the NRD," he added.
Macarius - who is part of 12 teams consisting of 12-13 personnel each, in conducting the survey - stressed that they had alerted the special branch and the JKM about the matter, but that they did not go beyond their authority of registering the illegal immigrants.
In one instance, Macarius said one of the person who wanted to register bore a blue identity card even though he did not appear to be a citizen.
"He did not sound like a Malaysian, he could only speak Suluk and (fortunately,) I can also converse in Suluk," he said.
Conducting officer Manoj Kurup - who questioned Macarius - noted that syndicates tend to forge on any forms of documentation issued by the government for immigrants, for profit.
Macarius is the 109th witnesses to testify at the RCI which first began its first hearing in January and is being presided by former Chief Judge of Borneo Steve Shim.

131. Why this prior to completion of RCI?

why this now?  Joshua


http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/06/12/status-for-stateless-in-sabah/

‘Status’ for stateless in Sabah

by Sandra Sokial. Posted on June 12, 2013, Wednesday

Junaidi

KOTA KINABALU: The stateless in Sabah will be given a ‘status’ finally to avoid social complications in the future.

Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who disclosed this yesterday, said that it would also ensure that these people are in the system should they get involved in crime activities.
“We are doing this on humanitarian grounds because they too deserve a certain status.
“For instance, a six-year-old today will be 20 in the next 14 years. What will happen to them if they do not possess birth certificate, identity card (IC) or any kind of documentations? We cannot send them to their countries of origin because they were born and grew up here … they cannot stay stateless.
“We have to realise this now, otherwise it will be a social problem in the future. They deserve to be given some kind of documentation and a status,” Wan Junaidi told reporters after a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman at the Sri Gaya here yesterday.
He said that all babies borne in Malaysia are eligible for a birth certificate, but stressed that it does not automatically award one the Malaysian citizenship.
“We will divide them into two categories – citizen and non-citizen. Their status, whether they will be awarded citizenship or not, will be determined later (when they apply for the ICs),” he said.
The IC is divided into three colours, namely MyKad for citizens, and red and green. Red IC holders are non-Malaysian permanent residents, while green IC holders are non-Malaysian temporary residents.
“On whether the red and green IC holders will be given the Malaysian citizenship will only be determined when we reach the bridge and cross it. They will have to meet certain criteria such as having a clean backgrounds, avoid involving in crime and have shown their loyalty to the country,” said Wan Junaidi.
He added the stateless people problem happens everywhere in Malaysia, adding that in fact, it is also a global issue.
“This is a global phenomenon and not restricted to Sabah alone. If a country continues to be prosperous with good social conditions, people from neighbouring countries will definitely flood our country,” he said, giving examples, such as the Mexicans who seek greener pastures in California, USA.
Meanwhile, Sabah National Registration Department director Ismail Ahmad disclosed that there are three types of birth certificates which would be divided into two colours, namely green for citizens and red for non-citizens and queue (for those with pending status).
Also present at the courtesy call was NRD director-general Datuk Jariah Mohd Said.