Monday, April 15, 2013

107. May 20 to resime RCI hearings for 4th sessions

RCI Hearing On Sabah Illegal Immigrants To Continue On May 20

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=942131

KOTA KINABALU, April 15 (Bernama) -- The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah will hold its fourth hearing session at the Kota Kinabalu High Court next month.

The 10-day session will begin on May 20. It was initially scheduled for between March 5 and 9, but was postponed.


Commission chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong set the date Monday, after delivering a decision on the application by the Sabah Law Association (SLA) for access to witness statements recorded under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code.


Shim was formerly Sabah and Sarawak chief justice.


The commission's panel members comprise former Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon; former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu; former Sabah state government secretary Datuk Kee Mustafa; and, former Sabah deputy chief minister and former Sabah attorney-general Tan Sri Herman J. Luping.


The first hearing session was held for five days, beginning Jan 14.


To date, 62 witnesses had been called to testify.


On March 13, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah extended the RCI proceedings by six months, from March 21 to Sept 20, this year to enable parties to complete the investigation and compilation of reports according to Section 5 of the Commission of Enquiry Act 1950 (Act 119).


The commission was initially given six months to wrap up investigations and present a report with recommendations to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, from the date of the appointment of its panel on Sept 21. It expired on March 20.


Eight terms of reference were outlined, including to enquire into the number of immigrants in Sabah who had been issued blue identification cards or citizenship, and whether such a move was in accordance with the law.


-- BERNAMA

No comments:

Post a Comment