KOTA KINABALU: To address documentation issues, native Sabahans should re-register their MyKad, said former chief minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
He said it would be better for the registration process to be overseen by the state government.
"In Sabah, there are many types of documents, including the burung-burung documentation.
"I believe it is crucial to reassess the entire registration process. We have been submitting proposals to Kuala Lumpur and even established a committee to address this issue.
"In the end, we dispute the data. Why not manage let the state government manage it?
"Stakeholders should be involved to prevent manipulation for political gain."
He said this in his address at the Colloquium on Identity Issues in Sabah at the Sabah International Convention Centre.
The Usukan assemblyman said he had raised the issue in Parliament before, but no one paid attention.
"They believe it cannot be accomplished. However, I am confident it can be done.
"It may require some funding from the government, but to demonstrate the commitment of the state government, let them manage this process.
"If we take charge, we will be satisfied. We will not blame anyone else for any future issues. If something goes wrong, we can hold Sabahans accountable.
"Currently, if there is a problem, we attribute it to Kuala Lumpur. There are underlying agendas at play and they are manipulating everything.
"We assume this to be the case. But if we want to progress, we must take control of the entire process.
"The first step we need to take is to re-register original Sabahans through a proper mechanism."