Sabah RCI: Migrants a security threat to Sabah – CP

KOTA KINABALU: The high number of migrants in Sabah has resulted in security, social, economic and cultural implications, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib told the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrant issues in Sabah.

Responding to questions from conducting officer Manoj Kurup on the aspect of implication on security, Hamza said the recent armed intrusion in Lahad Datu was an example of the secruity threat they pose and because it had resulted in deep-rooted effect not only on the country’s security forces but also on the people in Sabah.

He, however, stressed that the threats can also come from the locals such as those who assisted and supported the intruders.

Hamza was also of the opinion that the state still needs the services of foreigners in several sectors like plantations providing that they come into Sabah through legal means and abide by the procedures.

Replying to Commissioner Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu who asked for a comparison between the positive effect of the foreigners’ contribution and the negative effect of their presence in the state, Hamza said, “we all agree that foreign workers play a role in the state’s development.

“If the Government would not have implemented the 5P program to legalise illegal immigrant workers, the sectors which are dependent of foreign workers like plantation would collapse,” he told the Royal Commission of Inquirty on illegal immigrants in Sabah yesterday. said.

He also told the panel that locals contributed 70 per cent to the police’s crime index and not 50 per cent as suggested by Manoj.

“As stated in the statistics provided, the Filipinos and Indonesians arrested for committing offences as listed under violent crimes do not number more than 15 per cent in the police’s annual crime index.

“I disagree with your suggestion that half of the crimes are committed by foreigners,” he told Manoj.

According to Hamza, most of the cases committed by foreigners are between fellow foreigners while cases involving foreigners and locals are less than 15 per cent to the crime index.

On cases involving fake or dubious Malaysian identification documents, Hamza told the panel that the police would refer these cases to the relevant authorities for further action.

He stressed that all police will investigate all reports it receives, whether it involves locals or foreigners.

Nancy Lai