Kota Kinabalu: The Kesatuan Perkhidmatan Pegawai Imigresen Sabah (KPPIS) welcomed the State Government’s decision to defer the implementation of the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) under Act 860 at the State’s entry points.
“We extend our deepest appreciation to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the Chief Minister’s Department for their decisive action in safeguarding Sabah’s autonomous immigration powers as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” said KKPIS President Azizah S Ahmad, in a statement, here.
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It also thanked Peninsular counterpart, the Kesatuan Perkhidmatan Imigresen Semenanjung Malaysia (KPISM), as well as all Sabah immigration officers for their unwavering moral support throughout the struggle.
“Our solidarity proves that the welfare and legal safety of civil servants is a priority that cannot be compromised,” Azizah said.
The KPPIS also acknowledged the media’s role in bringing the issue to public attention, which the union credited as instrumental in achieving the right policy outcome for Sabah.
It also noted the statement of support by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) on May 13, which raised concerns over legal conflicts, including potential ultra vires issues surrounding the implementation of Act 860.
They called on the SLS to continue providing legal advice and scrutiny to ensure the union’s efforts remain within lawful parameters consistent with the Federal Constitution and Sabah’s laws.
Azizah said KPPIS will not stop at the deferral issue, and intend to deepen their strategic collaboration with KPISM at the national level, with both bodies positioning themselves as a proactive check-and-balance mechanism over AKPS governance and policy implementation across the country.
“Our primary focus is to ensure that any future transfer or centralisation of border enforcement powers does not obscure, erode or marginalise immigration-specific expertise and jurisdiction,” she said, adding that frontline enforcement officers must be protected by a clear and orderly chain of legal command, free from jurisdictional conflicts.
The KKPIS affirmed its support for the Federal Government’s border security initiatives but maintained that these must not come at the expense of territorial legal sovereignty, State autonomy or the legal protections afforded to officers serving on the front lines.
