‘PKR unfit to govern Sabah’

Michael Kaung

UBF chief Jeffrey Kitingan condemns the party's proposal to legalise illegal immigrants in Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU: United Borneo Front (UBF) leader Kitingan said today that PKR is not fit to run the country for proposing to gradually legalise illegal immigrants in the state as a way of solving the decades-long issue.

In his harshest criticism yet of his former party, the maverick politician said that this could be seen from the way PKR had spelt out how it would deal with the perennial issue of illegal immigrants in
the state.


He said the fact that PKR said that it would try to redress the issue by granting “permanent residence” to some of the thousands of illegalimmigrants in the state, showed that the party was “ignorant” of the feelings of Sabahans.

PKR’s ‘Buku Jingga’ (Orange Book) which outlines PKR’s policy and also appears to act as its manifesto is proof that the party remains ignorant of the wishes of the people and thus is incompetent to run the country, said Jeffrey.

He said that instead of inspiring Sabahans with its vision and mission, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had created an uproar when she made the proposal which has become a blemish on PKR’s image in the state.

“It’s glaring proof that PKR is still very ignorant about what we Sabahans want… the party is not fit to govern the country,” he said.

“How can PKR claim to improve the situation in Sabah and in the country when it is so ignorant of the laws?”

“PKR called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants and yet at the same time offered to give them permanent residence,” he said.

“This is a case of jumping the gun because such a decision should be made only after studying the recommendations from the RCI after a full inquiry, not before the inquiry even starts.”

He said he is shocked that PKR is not even aware that such an offer will open the floodgates of new arrivals of illegals seeking such a privilege.

“Such an offer will create more problems rather than solve the issue. PKR says the offer of permanent residence is not a blanket offer, but even a single one given (permanent residence) will create a precedent that will further make a mockery of the immigration laws in Malaysia. Definitely, this is not the solution.”

“The best solution is to enforce the laws and make a nationwide sweep of  the illegals immediately and to deport them without compromise.

The laws are there … it is just a matter of enforcing them,” he said.

Has PKR a hidden motive?

“PKR also needs to make a distinction between enforcing the immigration laws and undertaking an inquiry to study the problem, including its causes, in depth and thus find effective and permanent
solutions.”

Jeffrey also asked if PKR actually had a hidden motive in the offer.

“Is PKR sending the message to the illegal immigrants that the party will help them become citizens if they vote for PKR to take over the government?

“If this is the real enticement in the offer, then PKR is even worse than Umno. It is an act of treason against the country. At least Umno is not openly giving permanent residence status to the illegals.

“If PKR’s hidden intention is to misuse the illegals for  its own political purpose, then the real victims will be the true Sabahans. It will be a huge mistake which will further worsen the present situation.

“Clearly, it is a very dangerous suggestion by PKR. If that’s the case, the people must reject the party. And I urge those Sabahan leaders in PKR who still believe they can help their own people by being in the party to rethink their position.”

PKR came out with the plan following decades of hand-wringing by politicians over the issue. The federal government has so far even refused to acknowledge that there is a problem.

However, it is well known that the population of the state has swelled by the hundreds of thousands over the last three decades until local Sabahans have almost been outnumbered by the illegal immigrant population.