Warisan's plan to 'legalize' stateless children open to abuse

KOTA KINABALU - Opposition leaders in Sabah have expressed concern over the state government’s plans to provide aid to stateless children born in the state through a legalisation programme, saying this will be open to abuse.

Sabah MCA Wanita chief Pamela Yong said while she was for all children having access to basic needs and education, she was worried that unscrupulous quarters might take advantage of the programme.

“How is the government going to make sure that there will be transparency when implementing this and how can they make sure that there will be zero abuse of power or corruption in all the departments involved?

“We have seen and we know that many people obtained their Malaysian citizenships through the loopholes in the system some time ago.

“If the government can convince and prove to the people there won’t be any loopholes or people taking advantage, and also display utmost transparency, then by all means do so,” she said.

Chief Minister Shafie Apdal yesterday said children born in Sabah and categorised as foreigners, even though one of their parents was a local, would be given aid through a legalisation programme which would ensure a better future for them.

He said the procedures would be tight, including the applicant having to prove that the child was born in Sabah and one of the parents was a local resident.

The Semporna MP said allegations that the government was trying to provide illegal immigrants with identity cards through the legalisation programme were untrue.

SAPP president Yong Teck Lee asked why was the child’s birth not registered from the start if one of the parents was a Malaysian and the child was born in Sabah.

“What has happened to the other parent? The National Registration Department and naturalisation laws draw a difference between the father’s or mother’s nationality.

“The latest utterances of the CM and his sidekick (Deputy Home Minister) Azis Jamman once again only stir up more confusion and more concern that this administration is toying with the idea of blanket naturalisation of unqualified foreigners to become citizens,” he told FMT.

At the Dewan Rakyat sitting yesterday, the home ministry lambasted the Sabah opposition for labelling the state government’s efforts to help this group as a programme to provide illegal immigrants with identity cards.

Azis, who is also Sepanggar MP, said the legalisation programme would fail if the opposition continued to make such false accusations.

Meanwhile, Kiulu assemblyman Joniston Bangkuai suggested a more pragmatic approach was needed, especially after reports of rampant cases of illegal immigrants applying for Malaysian identification papers through dubious means.

“In my personal opinion, it is of paramount importance for the government to meticulously check and thoroughly investigate if those applying for Malaysian identification documents meet all the requirements.

“Another concern is after the Warisan-led government terminated the services of all village and native chiefs previously to make way for new ones, who will verify the status of applicants, especially those with doubtful backgrounds?” he asked.

As such, Bangkuai said, a special panel comprising officials from relevant departments and the native court should be set up in all districts and at the state level to screen every applicant.