Indonesian-born vegetable trader Mameng Saleng told the commission on Tuesday that he was among 20 workers at the timber camp in Entelibon at Telupid district who submitted their identity card applications to two unidentified men.
He said this happened in 1983, just two years after entering the state from his native Sulawesi via the southeastern district of Tawau.
''The camp manager asked me if I wanted to apply for an identity card and become a Malaysian. There were about 20 of us,'' Mameng added.
Questioned by conducting officer Jamil Aripin, Mameng said his photograph for the identity card was taken at the camp and he did not submit any supporting documents such as birth or citizenship certificates.
He said he all he had to pay was RM50 when he submitted his application to the two men and another RM100 to them when he received his identity card two months
Mameng said he did not know if the two men were from the government or organisations such as political parties.
He added that he had voted in every election after obtaining his document.
He said he had also obtained a Malaysian passport and returned to Indonesia twice to visit his mother who was still living in Sulawesi.
He kept silent when Jamil pointed out the identity card number contained the number 12 indicating his birthplace was Sabah when in fact he was born in Indonesia.
Asked what would he do if the Malaysian government decided to revoke his identity card, Mameng paused for a moment and said: ''I leave it to the government.''
To another question from Jamil, he said he would take up an offer to become a Malaysian permanent resident if his identity card was taken away.
At this junction, Commission chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim said: ''Their perception is that if the document is issued by a relevant authority then it must be valid.''
''The question now is who is to be blamed for this situation,'' Shim added.
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