RCI on Sabah illegals to start on Jan 14

The five-man panel of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Sabah's illegal immigrant problem will start its public hearing on Jan 14.

The panel has so far identified 48 witnesses to testify at the hearing that will be held at the Kota Kinabalu High Court.

Panel head Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong, a former chief judge of Borneo, said the panel met yesterday to finalise the witness list and (look at) their relevance in the inquiry.

It was their first meeting since their royal appointment on Sept 21.

The other members of the panel include former Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon and former Sabah deputy chief minister and state attorney-general Tan Sri Herman Luping.

The others are former state secretary Datuk K.Y. Mustafa and Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation president Datuk Henry Chin.

The secretary of the panel is Datuk Saripuddin Kasim, who is secretary-general of the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.

Asked if they would be able to complete the probe within six months from their appointment date, Shim said: “We will try to complete the job by March 21, though there are provisions under the terms for us to request for an extension.”

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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.

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Pairin assures RCI will be set up soon

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has assured Sabahans that the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the presence of illegal immigrants and population boom in Sabah will be set up soon.

“The appointment of members of the panel had been announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last month and I expect their appointment letters will be issued soon,” he said.

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