KOTA KINABALU: A former Sabah Chief Minister is hopeful that the issuance of Sabah identity card (IC) will take place the earliest by next year.
Datuk Yong Teck Lee said he would push the motion during the state assembly sitting at the end of this month.
"It is no longer a request to the federal government, we have gone beyond that and I have talked about it for the past 10 years.
"We Sabahans must take the initiative. Sabah legislation has to pass and create an Enactment and department to issue Sabah IC," he said, adding the federal government has no jurisdiction over the IC issuance as long as Sabah does not grant or revoke citizenships.
The Sabah Progressive Party president was speaking in an online forum by Sabah Way Forward in cooperation with Kupi-Kupi FM Forum titled "Do We Need Sabah IC?"
Another panel member in the 75-minute session was Parti Warisan Sabah deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking.
Yong added that the Sabah IC is essential as the issuance of Mykad has been compromised with non-citizens obtaining it illegally while some did not even realise that their documents were fake.
He said when the state legislative assembly passes the motion, a technical committee would study the proposals and draw up the necessary law.
The Sabah Registration Department will be formed to oversee the processes from the appointment of a director-general, assistant directors and officers at the district level, among others, he said.
Yong said that it was inevitable that there would be an element of abuse in the issuance of Sabah IC, but he said by appointing independent panels and using high-technology applications for the identity cards, it would hopefully minimise the risks.
On whether the Sabah IC would solve the problem of illegal immigrants in the state, Darell said the matter has to be resolved by the federal government via the enforcement agencies.
"(The influx) of illegal immigrants cannot be solved by Sabah IC. Enforcement is important in terms of arrests and the process of protecting our borders.
"Right now, we always mention that entering Sabah is not even being taken cared of by the federal government, as you can see illegal immigrants entering via rat routes and other illegal means until now," he said, adding that the issuance of the Sabah IC would, for starters, clear doubts involving dubious MyKad holders.
For stateless people who have been staying in Sabah for decades, Darell said Sabah has to discuss with the federal government for the necessary solution.
The Penampang MP and Moyog state assemblyman said stateless people were different from illegal immigrants as the former was born in Sabah.
"But I think Indonesia has found a way out by schooling the stateless people, I know some Indonesian schools (in Sabah), students that are performing well will be taken back to their country."