'Project IC' whistleblower: Pakatan states at risk

Hafiz Yatim

A key figure in the 'Project IC' exposé warns that attempts to register illegal immigrants as citizens to pad up the electoral roll, a practice allegedly rampant in Sabah, will likely spread to peninsular Malaysia.

Dr Chong Eng Leong (right in photo), a former Parti Bersatu Sabah leader, said that his 15 years of research chronicled in his book 'Lest We Forget', estimates that about 600,000 illegal immigrants were given citizenship under the 'Project IC' scheme.

Chong, now a PKR member, warned that likely targets for an expansion of this scheme are the states ruled by Pakatan Rakyat - Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan.

"This problem does not only affect national security but also land issues in Sabah... I would not be surprised if they used this modus operandi in Selangor or other Pakatan-held states," he told a press conference at the party's headquarters today.

In his book, published in 2009, Chong claimed that in 1986, Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob and chief secretary of the government Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid had spearheaded 'Project IC'.

"In 1991, when Umno came to Sabah, there was a Sabah Umno task force where its directors were Musa Aman (current chief minister), Yahya Hussin and secretary Jabar Khan.

"The job of this task force was to look for foreigners in Sabah and issue them Malaysian ICs and then register them as Umno members (to) be included into the Sabah electoral rolls," he said.

All out defence of Putrajaya?

Chong pointed out that some Sabah Umno members including Jabar had been held under the Internal Security Act for their role in the issuance of Project IC to foreigners, which has also been dubbed 'Project M'.

PKR central committee member Khalid Jaafar (centre in photo) said that, if the matter was left uncurbed, it would become another obstacle to Pakatan's bid to take Putrajaya.

"(Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak has said he would defend Putrajaya at all costs. Is this one of the ways to be used?

"This method of retaining the government by registering illegal immigrants as citizens and registering them as voters in order to maintain their political control not only affects the security of the country but is also treason.”

Last week, PKR had alleged that a document, purportedly written by Hulu Selangor Umno division, shows proof that attempts to register a scheme similar to 'Project IC' is under way in Selangor. This has been denied.

Khalid said the Project IC may not be widely known in peninsular Malaysia but it is a hot political issue in Sabah.

“Various parties from Pakatan Rakyat and those within BN component parties have asked for the formation of a royal commission of inquiry into the matter to resolve the situation. Until today BN does not want to seriously resolve the situation.

“We know why because the Project IC is by Sabah Umno which is directed to control the political demography of the state and ensure Umno remains in power there. It is time that people in the peninsular understand this project as there is a possibility that it is being implemented here,” he said.

Khalid said that is why as part of the Orange Book or Buku Jingga, Pakatan Rakyat has pledged for the formation of the royal commission of inquiry to resolve the illegal immigrants and the Sabah citizenship issue.

“While we promise this (the formation of RCI) to resolve the problem, we also must be prepared that such syndicates may expand to peninsular Malaysia,” he said.

This was concurred by Chong, who said that is why he is supporting PKR as he does not want the alleged foreigners to usurp the political power and rights of natural born citizens in Sabah.

“I have said the amount now could be 600,000 but this is based on my estimate in 2005. Now those living there and given ICs have their children become naturalised citizens and they are given similar rights as citizens, including voting.

“I believe the second generation of project IC descendents are there in Sabah. Who knows some of them have come to migrate to peninsular Malaysia and transferred to various sensitive constituencies,” he said.

'BN has no intention of solving issue'

Chong said in 1994, PBS won 25 out of 48 seats in the state elections but lost the government through defections to BN.

He said the issuance of ICs to illegal immigrants continued and PBS was convincingly beaten in 1999.

“The federal BN government has no intention at all of solving this issue (of illegal immigrants being given citizenship). What is the point of Sabah being wealthy but our sovereign land is overwhelmed by illegals. The foreigners give rise to tremendous socio-economic effects in Sabah and very much upset its demography and political scenario,” he said.

“The BN federal government must realise that losing the sovereignty of Sabah means the collapse of Malaysia and I believe that was not the intention of the founding fathers of Sabah becoming independent through the formation of Malaysia,” he said.

For this reason, Chong said he wanted Pakatan Rakyat to win the next general election to resolve the mess which Umno and BN has created in Sabah, as pledged in the Orange Book.

“If Pakatan comes to power in Sabah, I hope they will resolve the issue as it is affecting the locals deeply, involving economic opportunities which should have been the right of the real citizens,” he said.

But he warned that what had happened to Sabah could happen in other states in peninsular Malaysia as what had been highlighted by Khalid, with alleged attempts in Selangor.

Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is also PKR Wanita chief, said based on Chong's experience, PKR may appoint Chong to supervise research over an operation by the NRD allegedly to give ICs to illegals here.