SANDAKAN – Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal will not hesitate to take legal action against any individual or political party accusing him of causing the presence of undocumented immigrants in Sabah.
“When did illegal (undocumented) immigrants start coming into Sabah? Was it during Warisan’s time (2018 to 2020) or otherwise? Because I don’t want slanders to be thrown at me, (calling me) an illegal immigrant.
“My great-grandfather was brought to Labuan in 1948. His graveyard is in Tawau. I want this to be explained so that it is clear.
“When did the illegal immigrants start coming to Sabah? Was it during Warisan’s time, which makes me one?
“I want an explanation…I will sue anyone, any representatives who make such accusations,” he told the Sabah legislative assembly in Kota Kinabalu today.
Shafie, who is the Senallang assemblyman, said this in his supplementary question during the question-and-answer session with assistant minister to the Sabah chief minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (Apas-GRS) on a question about the digital registration of foreigners in Sabah.
Nizam then responded by denying he ever mentioned that the immigrants entered Sabah during Warisan’s time.
“I am also of Suluk (race), but I am a true Sabahan. I love my country and I love Sabah,” Nizam said.
During the last state election in 2020, Warisan was accused of being a party that was “friendly” to undocumented immigrants on social media, believed to be posted by supporters of Warisan’s opponent parties.
At the time, Shafie also strongly denied the allegations, stressing that the party was always firm in solving such issues in the state.
Meanwhile, Nizam said that the data digitisation outreach programme to register foreigners in Sabah, launched in September 2022, has been carried out actively to date.
So far, Sabah recorded 39,276 foreigners registered under Sabah Integrated Management of Foreign Workers and Non-Residents (SWIMS), including 21,994 registered workers and their 17,282 dependents.
He said the programme would focus on registering immigrants in stages, with the initial stage starting from legal labour in plantation and construction sectors, as they involve a high number of foreigners.
“From there, we will continue to register those with documents such as those holding the IMM13, Surat Burung-Burung and Census Certificate papers in Sabah.
“All the information will be managed by Smart Sabah Corporation Sdn Bhd.
“Once we have all the data and information of all foreigners (including undocumented immigrants), this system will be a platform for us to control the numbers and execute coordination and any actions relating to the issue,” he said.
However, Nizam said that the Sabah government would not compromise on safety issues involving undocumented migrants, and would take legal action according to the law, including deporting them back to their countries.
“Hence, I hope that all assemblymen, government or opposition, would unite and support this programme so that we can solve this issue once and for all,” he added. – April 25, 2024