Sabah tackles illegal immigrants issue?

Michael Kaung

The federal government will be introducing coloured birth certificates for children born to foreigners in Malaysia.

KOTA KINABALU: As a first tentative step towards addressing the decades long issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah, the federal government announced that all children born to foreigners in Malaysia will be issued red birth certificates from July 1.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the policy, initiated by the Sabah government, is aimed at making clear to non-citizens that holding a birth certificate does not automatically mean that their children are Malaysians.

He said the implementation of the proposal from Sabah showed that the federal government was serious in tackling the long-standing problem of foreign migrants in Sabah.

“This issue is of great concern to people of Sabah who want to see a comprehensive solution to the problem.

“Taking into account the complexity and seriousness of the issue in Sabah apart from the complex geographical and demographic situation, it was best for the Sabah people to come out with their strategy to solve it,” he said adding that it was also why a special laboratory for Sabah was set up.

He assured that Putrajaya would give whatever assistance necessary to assist the people of the state resolve the problem.

The nationwide initiative which will be set in motion by the National Registration Department (NRD) will see a colour-coded birth certificate format with children of Malaysians issued green birth certificates.

“As a start, NRD will issue red birth certificates to children of foreigners,” Hishammuddin said, explaining that presently green birth certificates were issued to both locals and foreigners and a child’s nationality is determined based on the nationality of the parents.

“Our aim is to inform the parents of foreign children early that they cannot assume that just because the child was born in the country, they could automatically consider their children are Malaysians.

“It is also aimed at clearing any confusion among the people about the nationality of the children,” said Hishammuddin, who was in the state to witness Ops X Rampas KK, a hostage rescue drill held by special forces at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).

Approved by Cabinet

He said the move would also make it easier for all government agencies to easily identify the nationalities of the persons they are dealing with.

However, he said those foreign children already holding green birth certificates will keep them but if they apply for an “extract of birth certificate” from any NRD office, they will get a red birth certificate copy.

He said for those children who were identified as foreigners at birth but later verified as Malaysians through verification process under the country’s laws, the red birth certificates will be changed to green with an indicator on the certificate.

Hishammuddin said the suggestion for different coloured birth certificates was among 22 proposals suggested by the special laboratory on Sabah immigrants that was tabled at the 5th Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrants chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Thursday.

He said the 22 proposals were in addition to the 48 proposals and initiatives that was proposed by the special lab on foreign worker management held at the national level.

He said the special laboratory in Sabah involved 27 officers from state and federal agencies and their proposals was tabled and endorsed in the state cabinet on July 7, last year.

Most of the 22 proposals have been agreed and adopted in principle by the Cabinet committee and would be tabled at the Cabinet meeting in the near future.

However, steps were already being taken to implement various measures proposed by Sabah, the minister added.

Locals feel they are under siege from the massive presence of illegal immigrants in the state many of whom have allegedly obtained citizenship documents and have taken part in the electoral process.