Kota Kinabalu: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) welcomed the Home Ministry’s fresh approach to standardise documents held by stateless people in the State.
Describing it as good news, PBS President Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (pic) said the move would finally overcome the long-standing problem concerning the large presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah.
“Finally, our call is heard, and we believe this would resolve this long-standing issue. Today, some PBS senior leaders and I met up with Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin to discuss several issues, including matters concerning illegal immigrants.
“We also handed a memorandum to him to share our recommendations in solving this issue, which has always been our great concern since our party was formed three decades ago,” he said.
Apart from Ongkili, PBS Deputy President Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Vice President Datuk Almudin Kaida and the four PBS assemblymen - Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam (Kundasang), Datuk Jahid Jahim (Tamparuli), Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (Kiulu) and Julita Majungki (Matunggong), PBS Youth Chief Christopher Mandut and PBS Women Chief Datin Malianah Ugau were present.
According to Hamzah, the fresh approach to standardise documents held by 136,055 stateless people in the State means the government will only recognise the IMM13 document issued by the Immigration Department to Filipino refugees who fled to Sabah during the civil war in the southern Philippines during the 1970s.
He added that the ministry will assess and identify people holding the IMM13 documents and then make a presentation to the governments of their country of origin to issue them proper travel documents.
After cancelling the IMM13 documents belonging to them, he said they would be allowed to work in the country with a proper travel document of their country, and their status remain as foreigners.
“We have full confidence in him (Hamzah) to deliver and cleanse Sabah off illegal immigrants. PBS fully supports and endorse his plans,” said Ongkili.
