A Sabah group is taking a page from Hindraf's book - it is seriously considering petitioning the British government on the situation of illegal migrants in the state.

Having seen their proposal for a royal commission to probe the issue of illegal immigrants in the state rebuffed by BN lawmakers, the group is exploring the possibility of filing a petition to Britain through the Commonwealth office.

The Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan (Cash), which is spearheading the move, is particularly aggrieved by the 440,000 foreign illegals, including 130,000 illegal immigrants in the state.

According to Cash, many of these foreigners, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia were given local identity cards (ICs), according them all the benefits enjoyed by local Malaysians such as the right to vote.

kitingan project ic 250107 patrick sindu Cash’s leader, Patrick Sindu, who is a Kadazan from Papar, told Malaysiakini that the setting up of a cabinet committee on illegal immigrants showed that the federal government was not serious in dealing with the situation.

“Only a royal commission has the real power to get into the bottom of the whole thing. We want to know the actual numbers of ICs given, why it was done so, who directed the government agencies and what will be done to leaders involved," stressed Sindu ( left ).

If Cash was to follow the example from Hindu Action Front (Hindraf), which had filed a controversial lawsuit in Britain, it would be along the similar arguments that the former colonial administration had failed to ensure that rights of Sabahans be protected.

Another possible referendum?

Sindu was also not too impressed by the prime minister's announcement over the weekend that the Sabah Federal Development Department would be abolished, something which had been demanded by many Sabahans.

He said he was more concerned that Filipino-based groups, including the separatist Mindanao Nationalist Liberation Front, might refer the unresolved Philippines’ claim on Sabah to the International Court of Justice.

The Sabahan feared if another referendum was to be had, the Filipinos having ICs would decide the matter.

The Cobbold Commission had conducted a referendum in April 1962, where most Sabahans backed the merger with Malaya.

According to Sindu, the Malaysia Agreement - which is the basis for Sabah and Sarawak to join Malaya to form Malaysia - provided for reviews every decade and this was not done.

There have been other breaches to the agreement since the 1963 merger, reported Cash.

Cabinet committee an 'eyewash'

There have been mixed reactions in Sabah to Abdullah’s goodies, which was announced on Saturday during a official visit to the state.

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) chief Joseph Kurup, a deputy federal minister, said he was far from satisfied by the proposed cabinet committee instead of a more powerful royal commission to probe the illegal immigrants problems.

He described the cabinet committee as ‘mere eyewash’.

suhakam roundtable kk sabah 020806 dr chong eng leong Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) supreme council member Dr Chong Eng Leong (l eft ) said that a similar cabinet committee was set up already in 2000, followed by another in 2006, both chaired by the deputy prime minister producing no palpable result.

He said it was inadequate for the committee to only probe IMM13 holders - which are mostly temporary refugees from the Philippines - without also investigating holders of ICs from Project Mahathir.

On the other hand, his colleague in PBS, party information chief Johnny Mositun argued that the cabinet committee is exactly what Sabahans want.

"If there is going to be a solution, it must begin with the main problem – the IMM13 documents," Mositum explained.

Sabah PKR vice-president Christina Liew described the cabinet committee as an "old song, with a twist".

“We do not need another round of study. We need action, and speedy action,’ she added.

She argued that the federal government lacked the willpower to resolve the problems in spite of the overwhelming support given by the people of Sabah to the BN.

Sabah-based NGO Pacos' land-rights coordinator Galus Atos said the abolition of the federal development department after a 17-year wait was a good thing but stressed the importance of ensuring a transparent mechanism, distribution and implementation of projects meant for the people.

The department is a federal agency tasked to fund projects in the state, which little inputs from Sabahans.

Like many Sabahans, Atos said it would be better to set up a royal commission instead of a cabinet committee on the illegal immigrant issue.

"A royal commission will be more effective, transparent and independent," he said, lamenting that foreigners given ICs had deprived many indigenous people of their land.

Pacos has been in the forefront of the campaign to defend native customary rights land across Sabah from encroachment, not only by illegal immigrants but also by plantation companies.

PM's little candies

Meanwhile, Sabah-based PKR national vice-president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said there was "nothing new at all" in the prime minister's announcement on the cabinet committee.

He described the so-called 'goodies' for Sabah, including the announcement and the abolition of the federal department in Sabah, as merely "little candies the PM brought from KLIA".

The real issues and problems were not tackled at all, he pointed out.

Jeffrey, also the Sabah PKR deputy chief, said the 'goodies' would not affect plans for the crossovers from the BN to Pakatan Rakyat in Sabah.

"In fact tonight, we are having a meeting on this (the crossovers)," he told Malaysiakini.