MEMBAKUT: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) made its first appearance in Barisan Nasional’s (BN) by-election campaign trail last night with the party’s Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai hitting out at United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Organisation (Upko) for taking the illegal immigrants issue lightly.
The PBS information chief said he was astounded that Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau was more concerned about the BN-Pas cooperation than illegal immigrants in Sabah, which is often described as the mother of all problems.
"I always follow his speeches and in a recent event, the president of a party that has betrayed us said he is not worried about the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS), but (is worried) about Pas' presence here. Why? Because it (Pas) will bring 1,000 (members) to Kimanis.
"So, he is afraid of the 1,000 (Pas members) but not the over a million illegal immigrants in Sabah. What is this?" he said to the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) constituents in Kampung Kiulu Baru here, last night.
Kiulu Baru is a village populated by the KDM community. It is located within the Lumut district polling centre, but many villagers were originally from Kiulu. They migrated to Membakut, Kimanis since the early 1970s.
In explaining the issue to the villagers, Joniston said Malaysia is a democratic nation and matters pertaining to Pas have always involved controversial arguments in politics due to the party’s different views.
He then asked the crowd whether they anyone understand what PSS was all about, to which only a handful of people responded with a "yes".
"I've gone to villages and I'm quite surprised to find there are still those, who don't know (about PSS). This temporary pass, as announced, will be issued to 600,000 illegal immigrants (in Sabah) and this means their presence are legalised.
"The PSS can be renewed once in every three years...They (Parti Warisan Sabah- Pakatan Harapan government) admitted that at least, they have efforts to resolve illegal immigrant issues.
"(But) this is not the solution. What we want is for illegal immigrants to be deported and to obtain valid documents from their country of origin," Joniston said to resounding cheers.
He added there is nothing wrong for immigrants to enter Sabah but they need to have documents which are issued by their home country and not by the Malaysian government.
Joniston rubbished claims that the BN government did nothing to resolve the issue of illegal immigrants when it was in power. Citing an example, he said former Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat organised massive operations to detain and deport illegal immigrants between 2002 and 2003.
"I still remember because I was a journalist and I reported on the operation. The government organised big vessels to deport tens of thousands illegal immigrants and more than 10,000 squatters were demolished.
"They say that Umno is politicising PSS, but they are implementing something that does not have the blessing of the people. For us, whatever explanation given on PSS is hard to believe," he said.
The controversial PSS is one of the attacking points used by BN and Umno against the ruling Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) ahead of the Kimanis by-election that will be held on Jan 18.
The PSS was proposed by the Home Ministry, and it will replace the IMM13, Burung-Burung and Census cards to better regulate and monitor the presence of foreigners in the state. It is scheduled to take effect from June 1, this year.
The Kimanis parliamentary by-election will be a straight fight between Warisan candidate Datuk Karim Bujang and BN candidate Datuk Mohamad Alamin. Early voting is on Jan 14, while polling days falls on Jan 18.