Former ISA detainee Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who is now Bingkor State Assemblyman said the non-compliance of the 20-Points and the Malaysia Agreement added to the complexity.
“The Government has not only failed to safeguard the sovereignty of our nation but is an active participant in breaking the laws of our own country,” he told the five-man RCI Panel at the Kota Kinabalu High Court here Wednesday
“It is nothing more than the failure of Sabah leaders to protect and safeguard our rights and Sabah’s sovereignty,” added.
He told the Panel that he based his testimony on his experience as the former Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Sabah Chief between 1986 and 1991. During this time he had also headed the first Transient Population Study in 1989-1990.
Besides this, Jeffery also claimed he had a personal encounter with an National Registration Department (NRD) officer in 1990 regarding the much talked about “Project IC” that was going through the department.
He also said he his testimony was based on personal conversations with fellow ISA detainees, and his own research on the books written by the late Mutalib MD, and “Lest We Forget” written by Dr Chong Eng Leong.
The Immigration Department official showed Jeffrey a bound document containing a list of up to 60,000 foreigners who were given blue ICs.
The NRD officer had also told Dr Jeffrey that he was sad and angry that some of his colleagues had been arrested under ISA after they were made used of to process these documents.
Jeffrey (third right) with his entourage outside the Kota Kinabalu High Court Wednesday after he gave his testimony to the RCI Panel.
Jeffrey (third right) with his entourage outside the Kota Kinabalu High Court Wednesday after he gave his testimony to the RCI Panel.
“This is my point to show that the Government has not only failed to safeguard the sovereignty of our nation but is an active participant in breaking the laws of our own country,” he reiterated.
He continued that if the Government is really sincere about solving the problem, it should then focus on the solutions.
First and foremost, he called for a better law enforcement against corruption and to keep political interference at bay.
He stressed that the Sabah Government must take full responsibility of its rights and duties on State immigration as provided for under the 20 Points, IGC and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“Successive Sabah Governments have failed to do this except for Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat for a brief period of two years under the Rotation System of Chief Ministers,” he said.
He added that the Sabah Government must assert its role and responsibility on citizenship and the NRD, contending that a Federal Citizen does not necessary mean that he/she is also a Sabah Citizen.
“The Federal Government is in fact, part and parcel of this insecurity dilemma by its involvement in giving ICs to Philippines in Mindanao citizens and even knowing fully well that these people have an unresolved claim over Sabah,” he said.
He also reiterated his call for the setting up of the State’s very own Homeland Security Ministry.
He also stressed that Sabah Government should issue a Sabah IC to all its citizens and a Non-Sabahan Resident IC to all Non-citizens residing in Sabah.
Jeffrey also stressed that the State Government in Sabah should be called the Sabah Government to avoid confusing with Semenanjung State Governments and to respect the status of Sabah / Sarawak as partners of Malaya to form the Federal Government of Malaysia.
Calling for the revival of the Inter-Governments Committee (IGC), Dr Jeffrey stressed that the Federal Government of Malaysia, Sarawak Government and the Sabah Government should sit down together and discuss the reactivation of the IGC, as an important mechanism to resolve Federal State problems and issues that are relevant only to Sabah – Sarawak including the issues of Immigration.
By Matthias Hermes
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