DAP Sabah Viceman Chan Foong Hin today commented that, it’s anticlimax for the long awaited RCI report. After two years, it only made one recommendation in its 368 page report, a so called permanent secretariat to address the problem of illegal immigrants in the state.
Chan who is also Sri Tanjong Assemblyman has asked Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan, the chairman for the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) to make a clear stand whether he accepts or not the newly released Rotal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants report.
“Would Pairin accept this finding as majority of Sabahans believed that federal agencies and UMNO leaders issued citizenship in exchange for votes to oust PBS state government in 1994?”, Chan asked.
The widely anticipated RCI report stated that, the government and political parties were not involved in the mass issuance of citizenship to migrants in Sabah. Instead, it pinpointed “syndicates” involving former National Registration Department officials as culprits.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) of the RCI is investigative and not corrective in nature, as pointed out by former State Secretary Tan Sri Simon Sipaun before. But it’s total insulting to Sabahan’s wisdom if the finding only concluded that 68,703 ineligible people were issued citizenship between 1963 to August 31 last year.
It fully demonstrates that even investigation not being done properly. Commission has concluded that Project IC “probably” exist. How do we expect BN government to correct the issues when they have denied the existence of the problem?, Chan said.
“It’s a sad day for Sabahan. Our hope entirely disillusioned. Once again, BN government has failed us. Pairin should immediately reject his appointment as the chairman of the special committee to study and implement the recommendations of the RCI report as there is nothing to study. I challenge Pairin to make his stand clearly. He should stand up and show his courage to the people. This is the last war of dignity for Pairin and PBS.” Chan concluded.