Kota Kinabalu: Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia (G57) has welcomed the Sabah government’s decision to postpone the implementation of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), describing the move as proof that the state leadership is responsive to public concerns.
Its Chairman, Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar, said the announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor demonstrated that the concerns raised by the Sabah Immigration Officers Services Union (KPPIS), as well as the wider Sabah public, were taken seriously.
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“This decision proves that the concerns voiced by KPPIS and the people of Sabah have been heard and given due attention by the state government,” he said.
KPPIS had previously raised concerns over the proposed implementation of AKPS, warning that it could erode Sabah’s immigration autonomy and create overlapping jurisdictions that would directly affect immigration officers’ duties at key entry points.
Zulkarnain said the State government’s move to defer the policy reflected its firm stance in defending Sabah’s rights as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Immigration Act 1959/63, particularly in matters concerning immigration control.
He added that the decision also showed Hajiji’s administration was unwilling to compromise on issues involving Sabah’s sovereignty, even when Federal-level policies were involved.
“Any new policy or legislation that could affect Sabah’s immigration autonomy must be carefully reviewed to ensure the State’s rights remain protected as agreed in the formation of Malaysia,” he said.
G57 maintained that the State government’s position aligned with the aspirations of Sabahans, who want their special rights preserved without compromise.
