Sabah RCI: Politicians interfered in action against illegals

Former Sabah Immigration Department deputy director Ismail Ahmad today said that politicians had attempted to interfere in the agency’s enforcement work against illegal immigrants.

Testifying before the royal commission on inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah, Ismail said that some state assemblypersons had asked the Immigration Department not to act against people deemed to be aligned to them.

“Yes, it happens. There has been such cases (of political interference).

“The YBs said, these are our people, don’t disturb them,” he testified at the Kota Kinabalu court complex this morning.

However, Ismail did not name names or provide specific examples.

Due to such incidences, Ismail, who led a lab in 2010 on how to resolve the flood of foreigners in Sabah, had proposed that a letter be issued to all state assemblypersons warning them against interfering in the enforcement activites of the relevant authorities.

Furthermore, a proposal was also made to order all local authorities to assist and cooperate with the Immigration Department in enforcement operations against illegal immigrants.

“These proposals have been agreed upon, the Sabah Chief Minister (Musa Aman) had also consented to it,” said Ismail, who is now Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) director.

Reported by Nigel Aw