Upko protests giving IMM13
holders PR
Sunday, 1 July 2007 ( Source: Daily Express)
KOTA KINABALU : Upko Youth on Saturday objected to the Federal
Government's plan to eventually award Permanent Residence (PR) status to
all Filipino refugees holding IMM13 documents in Sabah.
"This is the unanimous view of the Upko Youth Exco," said its Youth Chief
Donald Peter Mojuntin.
He said given the sensitivities that issues relating to the presence of
illegal immigrants and IMM13 holders evoke, it is inconceivable that the
feelings of Sabahans on this matter were being totally ignored.
"The revelation by Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz earlier last week has
caused anxiety not only among BN leaders but also at grassroots level. The
feeling is that these IMM13 holders are better treated than genuine
Malaysians," he said.
He was referring to Nazri (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department)
who stated that it is part of the long-term plan of the Government that in
the end Filipino refugees holding genuine IMM13 documents would become
Permanent Residents in Malaysia.
There are still so many PR applications of foreign spouses of Malaysians
that are still pending approval even after 20-30 years, said Mojuntin who
is Penampang MP.
He said there is also the perception that it is much easier for illegal
immigrants and IMM13 holders to get hold of identification documents
(whether legal or not) compared to genuine applicants who have to wait
years to obtain their documents.
"There are even Malaysians holding red identification cards simply because
they were born outside the country before Malaysia was formed who have
applied for blue ICs or the Mykad and are still waiting for approval even
after 30 years," he said.
Mojuntin said when asked in Parliament, the Ministry of Home Affairs
stated that out of over 61,000 IMM13 holders in Sabah more than 17,000 or
28 per cent have been given PR status as of end 2006.
"This gives rise to so many questions that the people of Sabah are
entitled to be answered," he said.
"Who made the approval at the Federal level to award PR status to IMM13
holders in Sabah? What is the rationale and justification for such a
decision? Who endorsed that decision on behalf of the Sabah Government?
"Why was this matter kept so quiet that even the present State
Administration doesn't know of any such decision? Where is the
transparency that we so easily harp on about?"
Mojuntin said Upko Youth Exco hopes the Federal Government will stop the
issuance of PR status to IMM13 holders until it can convince Sabahans that
it is the best course of action.
"For this, officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime
Minister's Department and perhaps even the Ministers themselves, should
come down to the ground to give explanations to the people and hold
dialogues with them," he said.
"Come down to the ground to feel the grief, worry and fear the illegal
immigrants and the refugee issues are causing among genuine Malaysians in
Sabah," he said. |
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