MP makes fresh call for RCI on illegals

TAWAU: Member of parliament for Tawau Datuk Chua Soon Bui called on the Prime Minister to establish instead of suppressing the calls made by Sabahans for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in the State.

"What is the Federal government trying to hide on the issue of illegal immigrants pervading the State?


“Since the Prime Minister has expressed determination to finish off his judicial and economic reforms before the coming election GE13, he should establish the RCI speedily unless he deems the sovereignty of Sabah and the interests of the Sabahans are of secondary interest," she said yesterday.

Chua said, the people have waited anxiously waiting for the establishment of the RCI to be announced as the illegal immigrant situation in the State has worsened and there is no solution in sight.

"What is holding the RCI on illegal immigrants in Sabah when the Prime Minister himself said that it was still under consideration.

“And that was despite federal ministers, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, the president of UPKO, and Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, the deputy president of PBS, having positively indicated that the Prime Minister would make the announcement during his recent visit to Sabah," she said.

Chua stressed, "Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties especially UPKO and PBS must have felt the slaps despite Tan Sri Dompok having said that the Prime Minister would announce the establishment of the RCI, at a more opportune time, while UPKO secretary general, Datuk Wilfred Tangau said that the RCI was in the bag with the terms of reference to be ironed out."

She said since there was no compelling reason for such a delay, UPKO should reveal the terms of reference since the proposal for the RCI and 100,000 signatures obtained in a campaign by SAPP and the people of Sabah have been simply swept under the carpet.

"sabahans deserve to know whether the Prime Minister's dilly-dally over the matter is for the interest of the people and the sovereignty of the country," she said.

Chua said it is a well known fact that the presence of illegal immigrants in the State is the major contributor to the large increase in Sabah's population.

"The alleged citizenship-for-votes scam in Sabah, the social, health, security and safety impacts on the State has deteriorated due to their large numbers.

"Since the illegal immigrants issue was also one of the major factors leading to the formation of a Parliamentary Select Committee for Electoral Reform in Sabah which the Prime Minister has agreed to, is it not proper and timely for his administration to implement the RCI to avoid double standard on his bid for reforms," she said.

Chua expressed hope that the BN government will view the call for the establishment of the RCI on illegal immigrants objectively and to set new terms of reference to tackle the present problem as there now appears to be more illegal immigrants in the 3.2 million population of Sabah than the Sabahans themselves.