GIVING HIS TESTIMONY: Dr Mahathir (right) on his way to testify at the RCI. — Bernama photo
KOTA KINABALU: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad has denied instructing anyone to grant Malaysian citizenship to illegal immigrants in Sabah.
Dr Mahathir also said he had only recently heard about ‘Projek IC’ which was carried out in Sabah with the aim to issue Malaysian identity cards to illegal immigrants.
As the 209th witness to give evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah, Dr Mahathir in replying to conducting officer Manoj Kurup said the issuance of Malaysian identity cards to immigrants during his tenure had been done in accordance with Malaysian law and the Federal Constitution.
Dr Mahathir who was dressed in a dark grey suit, purple shirt and red tie said he had never instructed anyone to issue the Malaysian identification document to illegal immigrants in Sabah.
When asked by Manoj if he was aware that the purported project was also called ‘Projek Mahathir’, he replied: ‘Thank you very much.
“I heard my name had been used everywhere for many things. They called me racist, ultra but I’m never bothered. It’s part of my political life.”
According to Dr Mahathir the issuance of identity cards was done in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the law in Malaysia.
“There is therefore no directions needed as this is a natural process — those who have lived in Sabah for more than 30 years and are eligible to get Malaysian citizenship will be granted it,” he said when asked if he had, at any time when holding office as prime minister and home minister given any directive to issue ICs to the illegal immigrants.
Dr Mahathir also told the commission that he had never given any instructions to former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh to continue with the so called ‘Projek IC’.
He gave Manoj the same answer when the latter asked him if he had instructed the late Tan Sri Megat Junid and his former political secretary Tan Sri Aziz Samsuddin to carry out a project to give identity cards to illegal immigrants.
He agreed with Manoj that his instructions were often misinterpreted by government officers and pointed out that incidents where instructions were not followed would be investigated accordingly.
“And if someone breaks the law?” asked Manoj to which Dr Mahathir replied: “The usual process will be done.”
When asked for his comment on books about the alleged ‘Projek IC’, Dr Mahathir was of the opinion that they were very good academic studies.
“But I do not know how he could have reached the conclusion that I gave the instructions. I realise that when people use my name on books, they sell very well,” he said drawing laughter from those in the courtroom.
Dr Mahathir, who said he had never heard of former ISA detainee Hassnar Ebrahim, told the Commission that he did not know what the late Megat had told the latter.
“I do not know what Megat said — he is not around anymore,” he said when informed by Manoj that Hassnar claimed Megat told him that Dr Mahathir had instructed to initiate a project to issue identity cards to illegal immigrants in Sabah.
To Manoj’s question on Hassnar’s allegation that Megat told him to stop the project because the then chief minister of Sabah Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan had met with him (Dr Mahathir) and requested that Hassnar be arrested, he replied: “I do not know anything about this. He (Pairin) did mention this (the issuance of identity cards to illegal immigrants) but I did not give any instructions.
“That was what Megat Junid said — I am not responsible for everything he said,” Dr Mahathir said.
On the issue of bringing Umno into Sabah because PBS, which was then the government, was no longer in Barisan Nasional, Dr Mahathir said: “Whether I liked it or not, I had to bring Umno here to take over management of the election.”
When asked for his opinion on the suggestions from several Sabah leaders including Upko president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok that all identity cards issued in Sabah should be recalled and reissued upon proof of citizenship, Dr Mahathir said if the move was not illegal and could solve the problem, the authority could take action on the suggestion.
To a suggestion by National Registration Department (NRD) director-general Datuk Jariah Mohd Said to grant amnesty to immigrants who had obtained identity cards illegally so that they could come forward and rectify their mistake and get citizenship if they qualified, he said it was up to the authorities concerned to take action.
“If they qualify yes (grant them citizenship). It is up to the relevant authorities to accept or reject (the application). The proposal can be considered but whether it is good or not I do not know. These people have lived here for more than 30 years and they have made a life for themselves so if they have made mistakes in the past it is not beyond us to forgive them and consider giving them citizenship,” he stressed.
To a question on what action should be taken on those who had falsified information such as their place of birth just to get Malaysian citizenship, Dr Mahathir said: “It is up to the current government to decide what to do with these people. It is up to the government to accept or reject them.”
Questioned by the Commission’s chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong whether he agreed with the general perception of people in Sabah that the influx of illegal immigrants into the state was a serious problem but the government didn’t seem to be doing anything to resolve it, Dr Mahathir said: “Yes it is a serious problem which has existed for decades. But resolving the issue is something that depends on the person who is in charge at the moment.”
When asked if he remembers meeting a group of state leaders led by the then Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee and being told about the potential threats Sabah faced due to the influx of illegal immigrants, Dr Mahathir said he remembers talking to some Sabah leaders on the matter.
He also said he had assured them that the federal government would be taking steps to resolve the problem.
To Shim’s next question if a regularisation programme and formation of a special task force that was announced by former deputy home minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting when he visited Sabah in the 1990s was a result of the meeting, Dr Mahathir replied: “No, I don’t remember this. But then maybe it was the opinion of the deputy home minister at that time as he may have heard the complaints made by several ministers in Sabah.”
Dr Mahathir also said he was not aware that former chief minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan had visited his successor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and presented a memo to him regarding the issue of illegal immigrants in the state.
“This happened after I had stepped down,” he said adding that he was also unaware of an open letter purportedly written by Hassnar that was attached with the memo presented by the PBS leadership in 2002.