KENINGAU: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Keningau Polling District Centre (PDM) Station concurs with Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Youth that the term “non-citizen” in Department of Statistics Malaysia does not mean Illegal Immigrants (PATI).
GRS PDM Keningau Station Head Haji Yazid Haji Mohd Hasnan Tawik @ Charles said loose and politically motivated interpretations of official data only confuse the public and create inaccurate perceptions about the actual status of foreign nationals in Sabah.
He said, as explained by the Gagasan Rakyat Youth wing Acting Chief Azrul Ibrahim, the non-citizen category in DOSM statistics includes documented foreign nationals (PADI), such as legally permitted foreign workers, international students, holders of temporary work passes, as well as their dependents, and does not refer exclusively to PATI.
“The public must be given factual and accurate explanations, not sensational portrayals that equate all non-citizens with illegal immigrants. Such an approach is not only misleading, but also does not help in resolving the real issues,” he said.
Yazid added that the increase in the number of non-citizens in major cities such as Kota Kinabalu must be assessed comprehensively, including in the context of post–Covid-19 economic recovery, labor needs, and the implementation of the Digital Foreign Nationals Registration System.
He said the digital registration system is intended to record the actual number of foreign nationals present in Sabah and does not involve bringing in new foreign nationals; instead, it enhances transparency in management and monitoring.
“This step is crucial in supporting security, development planning, and the formulation of more accurate and effective policies at the state level,” he added.
He also stressed that GRS remains committed to supporting the efforts of the Sabah State Government under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, as well as the Federal Government, in addressing foreign national issues comprehensively based on accurate data, effective enforcement, and responsible policies.
“Issues of security and Sabah’s sovereignty must be addressed rationally and based on facts, not by distorting data for political interests that ultimately mislead the public,” he said.
