Pekida Sabah Akjan's act a treason to all true Sabahans

By Awang Ahmad Sah


In Kinabatangan District alone, the locals are outnumbered by five fold with a reported population of 117,689 foreigners and 32,638 locals in 2010.  

“The statement by Pekida Sabah head, Akjan, that the proposed Royal Commision of Inquiry (RCI)  would cause racial tension among the various ethnic groups in Sabah is not only irresponsible but scandalous, ridiculous and a treason to all genuine Sabahans” replied Awang Ahmad Sah, the Deputy Chairman of UBF.

All ethnic groups in Sabah including local Suluks and  Bajaus have been  living together and working hand in hand since Independence in 1963 and have even formed the State Government together and shared the power.

“Our concern on the wrongful issuance of IC, Mykads and citizenship to the illegal immigrants is genuine as these foreigners have numbered almost equal to the local population” pointed Awang Ahmad Sah.

The giving of citizenships to unqualified illegal immigrants is a serious offence and an act of treason and threatens the national security not only of Sabah but of the country.

The mass issuance of Mykads  by the Federal Government to the illegal immigrants has indirectly encouraged the influx of illegal immigrants from the Southern Philippines and Indonesia. If left unchecked, Sabah's local population will be outnumbered.

Ironically, instead of protecting Sabah from being “invaded” by Indonesia or the Plilippines as promised by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the present Government have issued Mykads to the illegal immigrants resulting in a reverse takeover of Sabah.   “This is the problem that we are talking about” added Awang Ahmad Sah.

The RCI is the best body to investigate how the illegal immigrants obtained their Mykads, who were responsible, was Sabah’s Security Council involved in approving the Permanent Resident (PR) applications, how many PRs were approved by the State Government, does the figure tally with the number of Mykads subsequently issued.

Only the RCI can independently  investigate the roots of the problems and offer remedies to be taken to resolve the problem of illegal immigrants and the granting of citizenships to them who are unqualified.

It is Sabahans that are threatened  and not those in the Peninsular.  The threat affects all sectors especially employment, education, politics, business and land as well as the creation of rising crime and social problems.

Already, the public transportation such as taxis and buses are dominated by these immigrants or new Sabahans!   Enrollment at public universities and colleges are seriously affected.

In Kinabatangan District alone, for example, the locals are outnumbered by five fold with a reported population of 117,689 foreigners and 32,638 locals in 2010.  

State seats in the East Coast and West Coast especially Muslim majority seats and mixed-seats are already filled with thousands of voters with dubious Mykads.

The illegal immigrants with Mykads have become the balancing power and dictate the outcome of the elections.   For example, both Petagas and Tanjung Aru, have each at least 2,000 voters  each with dubious Mykads.

The resolution of the illegal immigrants problem require a strong political will.

The Federal Government holds the power and all Sabahans have witnessed that they are the cause and theroot of this problem.   The Government instead of taking action, are protecting and covering up their wrong doings.  Hence, it is not surprising that they are not in favour of establishing the RCI.

“The dependence on these “foreign voters” have weakened Sabah UMNO leaders who no longer have the credibility, integrity and will-power to safeguard and protect Sabah” added Awang.

For example, the illigal immigrants are occupying road reserve land at Jalan Bukit Vor, Putatan, but the Government doesn't have the guts to chase them out for fear of losing their votes come the next elections.

However, if it involve the locals, the Government would promptly demolish their houses.

This is not politisizing the issue nor it is politically motivated.

The fact is that the Government cannot be relied upon to act with integrity to protect Sabah and Sabahans, to the extent, it now acts irresponsiblely.

Due to the fact that the Federal and State Governments have failed to act, the issue has now become a political issue that must be solved by the Federal Government and establishing the  RCI is a must. All Sabahans including those in UMNO must support the RCI.

Sabahan Muslims should reject the “ketuanan Melayu” concept because Malays was non-existent during pre-Independence.  

What is the point of accepting oneself as being categorized as “Malay” when the foreigners are also categorised as “Malays” and granted better privileges.  It is useless and pointless to compete with these immigrants who are treated with priority by the Federal and State Governments.

As native Sabahans, we should look forward above religion and race and not let the Federal Government divide us with race and religion.

“Who will look after us when our oil are exhausted and Sabah becomes a “liability” to the Federal Government?” asked Awang.

All Sabahans must unite to ensure a better future for our future generations.

The Federal leaders should make Sabahans proud to be Malaysians by practicing justice and respecting the feelings of Sabahan Malaysians.

“We shouldn't be deprived from our rights and from  our resources and be denied opportunities to develop and progress and deprive us Sabahans from our dignity and sovereignity.  We must also seek justice and we deserve the right to speak and choose without fear” concluded Awang.

Awang Ahmad Sah is Deputy Chairman of UNITED BORNEO FRONT