Sabah RCI: Illegals had guns and ammo - Chong

“There were no protests when their identity cards were revoked and they were deported. This was because they knew the identity documents were obtained illegally.”

KOTA KINABALU: Crime rate dropped drastically in early 2000 when the state government went on the offensive to demolish illegal squatter colonies and deported them, the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah was told today.

Former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, who helmed the state from 2001 to 2003, said the problem of illegal immigrants was a well-known problem even before he took office and made it his priority to deport illegal immigrants, including those who had been issued identity cards illegally.

Getting rid of the squatter settlements in Tawau, Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu and Pulau Gaya was one of his notable achievements while in office, said Chong, the 172nd witness testifying before the five-men RCI panel led by former Sabah and Sarawak Chief Justice Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong.

“When the authorities moved in to clear the settlements, we discovered a lot of ammunition and weapons,”  he was quoted as saying by the Malaysian Insider.

“Smuggling of firearms, ammunition and drug activities were among the crimes most commonly associated with these squatter settlements. Most of the firearms were smuggled in through the Philippines,” he told the inquiry.

The Sabah state government had received cooperation from The Philippines and Indonesian governments in the deportation exercise.

Chong said action had also been taken against immigrants who had Malaysian identity cards, saying some could not even speak the local languages in Sabah and did not protest when their cards were revoked.

Ansari, who is holding a watching brief for Dr Chong Eng Leong, arriving at the court.
Ansari, who is holding a watching brief for Dr Chong Eng Leong, arriving at the court.
“There were no protests when their identity cards were revoked and they were deported. This was because they knew the identity documents were obtained illegally.”

The former chief minister did not disclose the number of immigrants whose identity cards were revoked but said the number was “a lot”.

He added that there was no political interference as he went ahead clearing the squatter colonies and deporting the illegals. He informed the prime minister and his deputy, and claimed there were no resistance from any parties in Sabah.

Shim questioned Chong: “When these squatters were evicted, what steps did you take to ensure that they did not set up a colony in a different location?”

Chong replied: “If the squatter colony was big, like Kampung Pondo in Pulau Gaya, a settlement was built for them with funding provided by the Federal government. If their numbers were very big, they would be relocated to other locations, on state land.”

Chong admitted that during the eviction exercise and squatter demolishment, he spent many sleepless nights and the action that he had executed was not something that he had enjoyed.

He, however, declined to answer a question from lawyer Ansari Abdullah, who is holding a watching brief for author Dr Chong Eng Leong, about a death threat he received during his time in office, when he was allegedly sent a bullet.

Malaysiakini meanwhile reported Kah Kiat as saying that he had received tremendous cooperation from the security forces in eradicating illegal immigrants in the state.

BERNAMA quoted him as saying that re-issuing identity cards to Sabahans would not solve the existing illegal immigrants problems there.

Chong said that there is no guarantee that immigrants would not be able to obtain the re-issued ICs as well.

“What is the guarantee that the illegals would not get that IC, too?” he asked while testifying in front of the commission this morning.

Chong also said that the problem of illegal immigrants in the state is something that Sabah must solve on its own.

“Don’t pass the buck to Parliament or the federal government,” he said.

“This is for the state leadership to solve, let us solve the problem ourselves,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu City Hall former licensing divison head Sairullizam Shukor said there was no legal provision for the leasing out of business premise licences to a third party.

He said City Hall had received complaints that licences obtained by locals or permanent residents, were leased out to foreigners.

However, he said such licence was only a permit for the premise to operate a business.

The inquiry chaired by former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong continues tomorrow.