Even though some members of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into illegal immigrants in Sabah are former civil servants who remain sworn to observe secrecy under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), they will not be affected in serving as commissioners.

"They are commissioners who will investigate and gather evidence, not witnesses," Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time today.

The law governing RCIs gives them "absolute privilege" that protects them from any action, libel or otherwise when acting as commissioners or as witnesses giving evidence, Nazri explained.

NONE He was replying Hiew King Cheu (DAP-Kota Kinabalu, left ) who expressed worry that the former public servants would be hindered in carrying out their tasks as commissioners.

"That means they cannot speak out," observed Hiew when asking his question.

Reassuring him, Nazri also clarified that, as RCI members, they are answereable only to the Agong.

The Sabah RCI has yet to begin its work as it has only just convened, he added.

The cabinet agreed to the royal panel following a bipartisan call for a probe into the alleged naturalisation of foreigners as citizens in the state.

Also of concern is the claim that the influx of foreigners into Sabah is part of a votes-for-citizenship scheme dubbed ‘Project IC’ by some.

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