Immigrants who have illegally obtained citizenship are the ones who will cause Sabah to secede from Malaysia, a former Sabah senator believes.

Dr Chong Eng Leong said while some locals are calling for secession, it is actually the benefactors of Project IC who will break the state from Malaysia.

“I fear that one day, Sabah will be out of Malaysia, not because of us (Sabahans), but because of them (the immigrants). A reverse takeover,” Chong said at a forum on Sabah's illegal immigrants in Kuala Lumpur last night.