Sabah PAS wants two authors on RCI panel

Sabah PAS has urged the federal government to include two authors who have written extensively on the extraordinary Sabah population boom into the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) panel on state's illegal immigrants problem.

Mutalib Muhd Daud and Chong Eng Leong (left) have written several books on the topic. Mutalib is a Kedah-born now based in Sabah, while Chong wrote the books when he was a PBS leader. Chong is now with PKR.

Sabah PAS Youth publicity chief Mohd Firdaus Mohammad Nor said the wing was not happy with RCI's line-up because it lacked experts on the issue.

"Mutalib and Chong have been involved in writing exposés on the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah," Mohd Firdaus explained.

He said another expert figure who would be crucial to the panel is Simon Sipaun, who researched the topic during his stint as Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) vice-chairperson.

"There is nobody involved in the inquiry who can actually represented the people of Sabah," he said.

The five-member panel is headed by former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim and it will have six months to complete its investigations.

Other members are former Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Kamaruzaman Ampon, former Sabah attorney-general Herman Luping, former Kuala Lumpur police chief Hendry Chin and former state secretary KY Mustafa.

In another development, Mohd Firdaus said PAS will hold a major event in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 1 at which the party's top leaders will address the gathering.

He said a convoy of vehicles involving 5,000 supporters would greet the party leaders at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 10am before proceeding to the Double Six Monument in Sembolan where a ceramah will take place.

Several prominent Sabah political personalities would announce their entry into PAS at the ceramah.

"We cannot disclose the names of he personalities now. However, we will name them during the ceramah that night," he said.

Beaufort parliamentarian Lajim Ukin's high-profile meeting with PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat has sparked speculation that Lajim would join PAS.

Lajim, who was deputy minister of housing and local government, recently quit Umno citing dissatisfaction with BN's attitude toward Sabah.

Victor WS Tan (Msiakini)