KOTA KINABALU: Home Affairs Minister Dato Seri Zahid Hamidi’s proposal to issue birth certificates to stateless children showed how insensitive and with total disregard for Sabah, said Api-Api assemblywoman Christina Liew.
“By issuing birth certificates to these stateless children, we can expect a sudden surge of ‘stateless kids’ in Sabah claiming their birth rights in Sabah,” said Liew in a statement yesterday.
She also said the people of Sabah were already burdened with illegals given MyKad and becoming instant citizens and natives of Sabah.
“It is an undeniable fact that thousands of them are registered voters using their MyKad which signifies that they are citizens and are entitled to vote.”
Liew also mentioned that the RCI last called more than 100 witnesses, including high ranking officers from the National Registration Department.
“Some witnesses also testified how quickly and easily they obtained the MyKad when they arrived in Sabah. These witnesses at the material time spilled out what actually happened both by the relevant authorities and the recipients of the MyKad. The testimony that almost all of the illegals were issued with MyKad shortly after they arrived in Sabah through back doors was mind boggling.”
She added that Sabahans were waiting for the outcome of the RCI reports.
“The people want to know what, how and when the federal government is going to resolve the issue of PTI (illegal immigrants). The federal government should disclose immediately the outcome of the RCI reports and take measures to remedy the situation if it’s not already beyond redemption.”