All prominent federal and state government figures who held office when the alleged 'citizenship-for-votes' operation took place - including then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad - “should be subpoenaed” by the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah.

NONE "Sabah Bersih feels the RCI should introduce new witnesses and we call upon the commissioners to subpoena ...  Mahathir, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, Herman Luping, and KY Mustafa,” said Sabah Bersih chief Andrew Ambrose (right) .

Ambrose’s remarks were in a video recording that was played at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Herman, the former Sabah attorney-general, and Mustafa, a former Sabah state secretary, are commissioners on the RCI

steve shim chief justice of sabah and sarawak The other commissioners are former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim (left) , former Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Kamaruzaman Ampon and Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation deputy chairperson Henry Chin Poy Wu.

Moving forward, Ambrose said, those who have received citizenship, particularly genuine refugees, should be better integrated into society.

"A process should be created to foster loyalty to the nation instead of using them for certain people to remain in power,” he said.

"The process and issues raised at the RCI should also be recorded in history books for reference, policy making and nation building."

‘Truth and reconciliation must follow’

Echoing this, Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan said a truth and reconciliation commission should follow the RCI.

NONE "We don't want a situation where their children born in Sabah grow up in isolation and suffer discrimination. A holistic approach taking into account long term assimilation should be done instead of using them for political ends," she said.

Asked if Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was deputy premier during the period covered by the RCI, should testify, Ambiga replied: "Everyone who was involved should be called.”

For now, however, the Election Commission must work to ensure that its ranks are free of individuals who were connected with unlawfully awarding citizenship to foreigners.

"Those responsible must be made accountable for their actions," she added.

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