RCI: Committee proposes 6 extra terms of reference

KOTA KINABALU - The Independent Monitoring and Action Committee on the RCI Report comprising three political parties and 21 NGOs proposed six additional terms of references (TORs) to be considered by the Technical Committee on Migrant Management.

During a closed door meeting on Wednesday, the Independent Committee, represented by prominent leaders and lawyers including Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan, Datuk Yong Teck Lee and Datuk Wilfred Bumburing met with the Technical Committee chairman Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan who promised to bring their proposals to the committee's meeting.

"We have allowed the group to present their views and proposals for consideration because I have always said that I welcome all feedback and suggestions from everybody whether they are political parties, NGOs or individuals.

"This is because our duty is to collect ideas to help the government on how we can solve this illegal immigrant problem.

"So during the meeting just now, we have discussed ideas and we have accepted ideas that can be considered and we told them they can go back, discuss more and if they have additional ideas, they can always come back to us," he said.

Indirectly, said Pairin, the technical committee wished to convey its idea that it is crucial to solve this problem at all cost.

"What happened in Lahad Datu, in Tanduo, it had made us realised the importance for us to work together to find the solution to this problem. The establishment of RCI was a brave move but it was only the beginning. The report should be used as the basis for us to find the solutions to solve this problem once and for all," he said.

The Independent Committee claimed that its six proposed additional TOR were drafted based on feedback from the public. The proposals are:

1. To clean up the electoral rolls by weeding out all the names of unqualified 'voters' who have been registered using illegal ICs or genuine ICs dubiously given, including the ICs that have been obtained using false declarations and to allow political parties and NGOs to monitor the cleaning up process by the Election Commission

2. To scrutinise and identify all dubious ICs and MyKads that have been issued to unqualified foreigners based on their false declarations and information including about 200,000 numbers identified in the RCI Report

3. To issue a Sabah IC to Sabahans and genuine Malaysians who are permanent residents in Sabah. This can be done by setting up a Sabah Registration Department under a new Sabah Registration Enactment

4. To investigate and prosecute any culprits who have been implicated in the RCI Report as being involved in the Project IC and any other illegal issuance of citizenship documents to illegals and other unqualified foreigners

5. That the federal government make available to the public all records of proceedings of the RCI and the exhibits, memorandum and submissions by witnesses

6. That a special session of the Sabah Legislative Assembly and Parliament be convened to debate the RCI Report, its findings and recommendations

The Independent Committee, in its letter to Pairin stated that there is no better opportune time to establish long lasting solutions to the problems but to achieve it, no effort should be spared.

"The people expects it and strong political will would be needed to formulate the right solutions that should include transparency, more stringent laws and heavier penalties within the shortest possible time," it said.

The Independent Committee stated that the solutions do not lie with the Federal and Sabah governments which cannot be relied upon given that stakeholders in both governments have vested interest not to resolve the problems.