Jeffrey: Shafie, explain why Sabah NRD on registration drive

KOTA KINABALU - A Sabah opposition leader has urged Chief Minister Shafie Apdal to explain the mobilisation of the National Registration Department counters and officers during his meet-the-people sessions in various districts.

STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan said many Sabahans were worried about security in the state “as expressed in social media”.

He said there were several incidents which could justify such fears, including fires in illegal squatters occupied by undocumented immigrants where victims could then be issued with identity cards.

Jeffrey also questioned promises by Warisan leaders to provide land for the relocation of victims.

“There was also the lifting of the ban on pump-boats despite security concerns raised by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), which allows easy access for foreigners into Sabah,” he said.

“(It) was said by Esscom from their investigations (these foreigners) were unlawfully harboured for many months in Sabah by relatives who are probably recipients of dubious ICs under Project IC,” Jeffrey said, referring to the nickname for a campaign in the eighties where tens of thousands of illegal immigrants allegedly became Malaysian citizens through a dubious project blamed on then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.