The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) is disappointed that a chance to shed light on illegal immigrants and issuance of fake identity cards in Sabah has gone a-begging.


 Vice-chairperson Simon Sipaun and fellow commissioners were clearly upset that officials of the state-level immigration and national registration departments had failed to attend an inaugural roundtable discussion called by Suhakam.


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 At a press conference on Monday, Simon noted that the presence of the officials could have helped to close the gap between "general perceptions and the real situation".


 In answer to a question, he noted that Suhakam could only invite departments to send a representative to such events, and that it has no power to compel them to do so.


 The discussion, entitled 'Human Rights and Citizenship - Impact on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights' was held earlier that day in Kota Kinabalu.


 This was to have examined the presence of an estimated million illegal immigrants in Sabah as well as the alleged issuance of fake identity cards to many foreigners over the past three decades.


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 The state national registration department director had been invited to present a paper on 'Undocumented Malaysians of Sabah Origin: How big is the problem and how is it being resolved?'.


 His immigration counterpart was to have given a 30-minute presentation on illegal immigrants and some 60,000 foreigners, mainly from the Philippines, who had been allowed to stay temporarily in Sabah because of the conflict in southern Philippines. They hold IMM13 documents.


 Statistics are urgently needed on the actual number of foreigners with valid documents; those without any documents; and the number granted 'refugee or 'displaced person' status with the issuance of IMM13 forms.


 
 
 Demand for inquiry
 
 


 The discussion attracted overwhelming response from other relevant government departments, non-governmental organisations and concerned individuals.


 Social and politician activist Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said Suhakam could take the matter to a higher level, possibly by holding an independent commission of inquiry to tackle the problems caused by illegal immigrants.


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 Consumer Association of Sabah and Lbuan (Cash) secretary-general Joshua Kong said the best course of action would be to petition the King to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry, as the situation has become critical and has to be dealt with firmly.


 Cash had launched a signature campaign in March to collect 100,000 signatures to back the setting up of a Royal commission, in order to get to the bottom of the issue and make recommendations on solutions.


 Many of the participants expressed anger and frustration at the authorities for taking the problem lightly.


 One participant said that, if selling sand to Singapore constituted giving up sovereignty, then giving identity cards and citizenship to so many foreigners was many times worse.


 "The Trojan horse could already be preparing for a reverse take-over. If you lose Sabah, you lose Malaysia too," he said, adding that the federal authorities should take stronger action to protect national security.


 Another participant agreed, saying those who encourage illegal immigration or profit from it should be severely punished, including death by hanging.


 Suhakam was also urged to place the matter of illegal immigration at the top of its agenda for Sabah, to identify an effective solution.


 Cash president Patrick Sindu told
 
 malaysiakini
 
 that Suhakam's assistance was the first step to obtain feedback from the public on how the issues could be resolved.

The human rights watchdog wonders why the two key department heads did not turn up to discuss matters of illegal immigration and dubious citizenship.


Suhakam queries no show at Sabah roundtable

~RM12

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