KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Commission of Inquiry on Immigrants in Sabah says that the power to translate its recommendations lies with the relevant authorities.
It did not state who these relevant authorities in the postscript of the report which was made public today.
“Many people in Sabah seem to perceive the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) as the be-all and end-all to the illegal immigrant problems confronting the state. With respect, we think this is a misconception. The RCI is bound by the Terms of Reference. We can only inquire, make findings and thereafter present recommendations to the relevant authorities. Very much depends on the authorities concerned. The power to translate the recommendations into action lies with them,” the report stated.
The report in Bahasa Malaysia was 427 pages and the English version was 368 pages was made public in Kota Kinabalu.
The commission also said that it was aware that some of the evidence disclosed to the RCI maybe considered sensitive by some quarters.
“However, we think that such evidence has to be viewed against the backdrop of events and circumstances of the period when abuses and / or illegal activities relating to the widespread issuance of Malaysian identification documents (ICs) to immigrants / foreigners, were alleged to have occurred in the state of Sabah,” the report added.
The commission said that it was a period in which syndicates and individuals aided by or in complicity with corrupt officials, had taken advantage of a weak institutionalised citizenship system compounded by the huge numbers of immigrants / foreigners for monetary gain.
“It was also a period which saw the emergence of an alleged project called “Project IC” with corrosive political agenda.
In short, it was a period of heightened nefarious activities that had precipitated and accelerated the influx of illegal immigrants into the state,” it said.
The report added that Sabah now suffers the cumulative spill-over effects of that period.
“We believe that lessons can be learnt from history. All it takes is the political will. There is a need to take bold and decisive steps for an integrated, comprehensive and sustained policy of action.
That of course, is the prerogative of the government and the authorities. It is not a matter within the remit of this Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI),” it said.