KOTA KINABALU: United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Dusun Murut Organization’s (Upko) submitted to the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah a study report documenting the views of Sabahans on the issues of illegal immigrants and its impact on the local communities.
Its president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, who tendered the report when appearing as a witness for the public hearing yesterday, said the study also included feedback from both legal and illegal immigrants on how they obtained Malaysian documents illegally.
He said the findings of the study would help the Commission to better understand the extent of the problem and consequently formulate the right recommendations in resolving it.
He explained that the comprehensive study comprised 26 volumes, covering 13 locations in Sabah, namely Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tawau, Sandakan, Ranau, Kota Marudu, Kudat, Pulau Banggi, Pulau Gaya, Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Papar and Beaufort.
The study called the “Upko Initiative” was the largest qualitative study on illegal immigrants in Malaysia, comprising 1,000 interviews, of which 400 were Sabahans and 600 legal migrants, illegal migrants and those who have obtained Malaysian documents illegally, he added.
The local respondents comprised 150 from the KDM, Rungus and Chinese, and 250 from the Bajau Sama, Bisaya, Sungai and Brunei ethnic.
Approximately 400 of the immigrant respondents were those who have entered Malaysia illegally before obtaining IC or other Malaysian documents illegally via false Surat Akuan Sumpah, IMM13 to IC, purchase of IC’s and Projek IC.
The remaining 200 have come in legally, most have lapsed passports, or have come on a temporary visit pass and have not returned to their home country, with only about 30 have valid passports and work visas.
“Through this study we have been able to prove, number one, every migrant who has obtained Malaysian documentation be it birth certificates or IC’s has done so illegally and contravening the Constitution of Malaysia.
“In 13 locations in this study, after collecting data from a large segment of migrants, we have discovered a total disregard of the Constitution of Malaysia be it Malaysians who sell or give away documents or migrants who buy it or obtained it illegally.
“There is no doubt that the problem of illegal immigrants and “illegal Malaysians” is real and needs a final and comprehensive solution,” he said.
Reading out a written statement, which was later distributed to the press, Dompok said the study also found that immigrants obtained Malaysian documents through many illegal means, notably by purchasing them from syndicates or Malaysians selling their personal documents, or acquiring them through government agencies unconstitutionally.
In this regards, he said many culprits were to be blamed, namely civil servants, document traders, village folks and Ketua Kampungs.
He reckoned the solution to the problem must be to put an end to the supply, by making it both unprofitable business to embark on and also a genuine fear of the strong arm of the law.
“Thirdly, the study found that the problem of increasing number of illegal migrants in Sabah was due to the availability of jobs in various sectors.
“Here lies a major problem. While the economy of Sabah needs labour, employers should be held accountable for who they hire. They cannot expect to totally disregard the law for the purpose of profit and self gain at the expense of national security and the rights of other Malaysians.
“It is hoped that higher wages for Sabahans and the acceptance of the minimum wage would bring about a higher quality of life of our people and at the same time reduce dependence on foreign labour. In any case, if the need arises for foreign labour, it must strictly be legal labour force regulated by the government,” he said.
The Upko Initiative also discovered that family and ethnic affiliation were key factors in the promotion of migration into Sabah, as these institutions provided shelter, protection from the law and eventually towards assisting the new illegal immigrants in getting Malaysian documentation.
Dompok stressed this point should not be taken lightly, particularly as the study showed that migrant workers who have obtained Malaysian citizenship illegally have made it their priority to bring all their family members over to Sabah.
“There is a real risk of “real or original” Sabahans becoming a minority in our state . This fear is prevalent not only among the KDMs, but also the Bruneians, the Bajau-Sama, the Sungai and the Bisayah,” informed.
The study also identified numerous entry points, showed how the islands along Sabah’s porous waters were used by illegals as stepping stone into Sabah.
It also highlighted key structural weaknesses of government agencies, notably in failing in their duties to curb the problem of increasing illegal immigrants and the illegal transaction of Malaysian documents.
“The problem we face today is compounded by the failures of key government departments notably JPN, the police, immigration, customs right down to enforcement agencies in towns and cities.
There are reports even of bribery. Many respondents have spoken of such actions and therefore it is not an isolated incident but state wide,” said Dompok.
The study also concluded that original Sabahans were deprived of economic opportunities due to the presence of illegal immigrants and those who have obtained Malaysian documentation illegally.
It also showed that the social networks of immigrants could complicate actions needed to be taken to combat acts of terror in the future, as shown in Lahad Datu and Semporna incidents.
“This study would be useful in assisting the RCI to look into some of the term of reference. Among them, on how Malaysian documents have been obtained against the processes set in the Federal Constitution, on the increase in population, the marginalization of “real” Sabahans in the economy, and the need for the new laws and new operating procedures,” he said.