KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has never wavered from its stand to rid the state of illegal immigrants.
PBS secretary-general Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said party president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili had even suggested discussing the issue with Sabah lawmakers via an inter-party select committee a few weeks ago.
Ongkili, who is also minister in the prime minister's department (Sabah and Sarawak affairs), had in June 2020 led a high-level PBS delegation to submit to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin a memorandum to solve the illegal immigrants problem and had persistently pursued the matter.
Among the suggestions were for the government to use the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants and "Project IC" findings as reference to deal with the long-standing problem.
Ongkili has also written a letter to the Election Commission (EC) asking it to only implement the "Undi 18" in Sabah after the state electoral rolls are cleared from dubious voters considering the large number of illegal immigrants in the state.
"In fact, PBS has sought a meeting with the EC chairman to discuss our concern and we are still waiting for it to materialise, despite numerous follow ups.
"Our stand on the illegal immigrants and 'Project IC' issues remains, and PBS will continue to pursue for a solution to the problem," said Bangkuai in responding to a call by former PBS senator Dr Chong Eng Leong for Ongkili to make his stand on the "Project IC" issue.
"Lest we forget, the need to rid Sabah of illegal immigrants was pioneered and was among the key issues highlighted by PBS since its formation in 1985 and the party has been very consistent on the issue."
Bangkuai, who is Kiulu assemblyman, said PBS's consistency on the issue was evident from the setting up of a special Bureau on illegal immigrants, headed by a senior party leader since its formation in 1985.
The bureau is currently headed by deputy president Datuk Seri Radin Malleh who over the years has been among those in the forefront in highlighting the illegal immigrants issue.
Bangkuai said Ongkili's suggestion for a bipartisan select committee was most apt as the state has ultimate power over immigration, especially now that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is part of the Constitution following the recent amendment on Article 1(2) and Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution.
"We acknowledge the issues raised by Dr Chong Eng Leong but it is not right to say that PBS has changed its tune on the issue.
"We were, are still, and will always be against their presence in Sabah. Sabah is for genuine Malaysians only.
"We hope when the inter-party select committee is formed, it will not leave any stones unturned to determine the root of this problem and come up with proper solutions," he said.