SANDAKAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday allayed Sabahans’ fears of illegal immigrants seizing the opportunity of Sunday’s pre-dawn blaze at Kampung Bahagia to claim for replacement Malaysian identification documents.
He said the authorities involved in the post-fire registration have records to verify their identities.
The assurance comes amid concerns raised by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor that about 70pc of the victims comprised illegal immigrants who may be hoping for documents and possible alternative housing eventually.
The fears are not displaced as it allegedly happened under a previous administration where sudden fires were reported in many squatter settlements throughout Sabah with the NRD at that time coming under scrutiny
Sunday’s fire displaced 9,007 residents after about 1,000 homes were destroyed in the densely populated settlement, with only around 200 houses spared. This worked out to every house having up to 10 occupants, which many found to be puzzling.
Anwar said mobile teams from the National Registration Department (NRD) would be deployed to the area to assist victims in replacing lost documents, including birth certificates, MyKad and MyKid, while the Immigration Department would handle passport replacements.
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“I have asked that discussions be held with the Home Minister this morning, and representatives from the National Registration Department will be deployed to Kampung Bahagia to carry out registrations.
“We have records, so there should be no concern. It is not possible for non-citizens to be registered because we already have the data.
“We will ensure that birth records, MyKid, MyKad, death records and marriage records, including for non-Muslims, are restored, and the cost will be borne by the government. There will be no charges,” he said after visiting victims at the mosque and temporary relief centre at PPR Taman Batu Sapi.
He said the process is aimed at restoring essential documents lost in the fire, all of which can be verified through existing government databases.
He acknowledged that some victims have yet to register due to fears of possible action being taken against them, but assured that enforcement is not the priority at this stage.
“This is not the time for us to strictly enforce laws and regulations, although in the long term we will have to advise them to follow the usual registration process. That is what I want to emphasise.”
Eight relief centres have since been activated, although thousands are still staying within the Kg Bahagia area.
On Tuesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said all registration and replacement of identity documents for the victims would be handled on a case-by-case basis, with priority given to genuine Malaysian citizens.
He said the process is being coordinated by the Sabah Government together with state and federal agencies, stressing that there would be no blanket approach in handling the matter.
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