RCI on Sabah immigrants gets cracking

A Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) probing Sabah's longstanding immigrant problem has begun work with the appointment of an investigating officer.

Commission Secretary Datuk Saripuddin Kasim said the officer began his duties on Monday.

“The officer will be responsible for investigating any matter relating to the commission's terms of reference,” Saripuddin said in a statement here yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced on Aug 11 the setting up of the five-member commission.

The commission is headed by former Chief Judge of Sabah and SarawakTan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kion.

Other members are former Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon, former Sabah Attorney-General Tan Sri Herman Luping, ex-Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin, who is now Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation deputy chairman, and former State Secretary Datuk K.Y. Mustafa.

The commission had been asked to complete their probe in six months under eight terms of reference, including determining the number of immigrants in Sabah that were given MyKad or citizenship and if these were done legally.

It would also investigate if the issuance of MyKad or citizenship was according to the law and whether immigrants holding MyKad, temporary identification receipts or citizenship documents had illegally been registered into the electoral rolls.

The commission would also probe if the authorities had taken any action or made any improvement to standard operating procedures (SOP), measures and regulation to prevent any infringement of the law.

In its investigation of such SOP, measures and regulation, the commission is to take into account international standards and norms used in Malaysia and recommend any amendment or change to improve these.

It will also check the reasons for the increase in the state's population of Sabahans living here, including those given MyKads and citizenship through late birth registration, foreign workers and their families, illegal immigrants and refugees, and their impact on the electoral roll.

The commission will also investigate the social implications of the issuance of MyKads or citizenship to immigrants.

Source: The Star