KOTA KINABALU: The Home Ministry will look into concerns that some locals are becoming informants to the Abu Sayyaf militant group.
Its deputy minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman said such a revelation was not something new for Sabah.
“That’s the reason why we need to tackle issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah. We don’t rule out the possibility that this group of people have become informants. They have been here for such a long time.
“We are monitoring but I’m quite sure our Special Branch is also monitoring the situation. I don’t think it is so serious that Sabah people need to be worried. I think the situation is under control,” he said when met at the state government Chinese New Year Open House here.
Azis said there were public concerns that locals were feeding information to Abu Sayyaf militant group, especially with regards to movement of fishermen in the state’s waters.
He stressed the government needs to have in place comprehensive solutions to tackle security matters in regards to the presence of illegal immigrants, noting that the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) was one of the solutions.
“The Home Ministry will sit with the state government to discuss security matters when the PSS is scrapped. As I said, there are many holders of dubious documents that have not gone through filtration process,” he said.
Azis, during the Kimanis by-election, had explained that the PSS was a method that could help to identity immigrants holding falsified documents of the IMM13, Kad Burung-Burung, and census certificate.
“Actually, there was supposed to be a townhall session from Jan to Feb, covering all 25 Sabah parliament constituencies to brief on the need for PSS. We wanted to call all leaders regardless from the governing or opposition parties.
“To my disappointment we didn’t get the chance to give an explanation because of the by-election result and there were certain quarters seeking to manipulate (implementation of PSS). I’m not sad that the PSS was being scrapped,” he added.
On whether there were other measures to replace PSS, Azis said the Home Ministry would go along with the decision made by the state government.
“We will have discussion with the state … Whatever the decision by the state, the Home Ministry will follow because the power in regards to immigration is under the state’s jurisdiction,” he said.