Matunggong, Sun. - Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today called on the Home Affairs Ministry to conduct a thorough investigation into the on-going identity card registration drive by the National Registration Department (NRD) in Pulau Banggi where hundreds of illegal immigrants had attempted to register.

Bandau member of parliament, Dr Maximus Ongkili, said the Ministry must conduct an immediate investigation because there were reasons to believe that NRD officers might be involved in assisting non-citizens to try apply for identity cards using forms simply endorsed by irresponsible local village heads.

Speaking at PBS branch meeting in Kampung Kandawayon Matunggong last night, he said it was shocking that NRD officials should simply accept identity card applications without the standard proof of citizenship such as birth certificates and the identity cards of the applicant’s parents.

"The registration drive was meant for Banggi school children yet to apply for identity cards. How come there were hundreds of adult foreigners that came to be registered and the NRD officials simply accepted them until a report was made and the police began the arrests?" he asked.

"To date some 130 illegal immigrants have been arrested. They came in busloads from Pulau Gaya, Sandakan and as far as Tawau to take part in the registration. A massive mobilisation of such kind cannot happen in a vacuum. It is clearly an organised racket and it may only be a tip of the iceberg," Ongkili claimed.

The PBS deputy president said the Banggi public had received reports that money was involved in the whole fiasco with many foreigners allegedly paying between RM500 – RM1,000 to agents for each successful registration.

"This is a serious matter especially when Banggi politicians and local village heads have been implicated. The nation must not have any mercy for those who auction our citizenship rights. We urge the authorities especially the police and Anti-Corruption Agency to carry out a detailed investigation and quickly charge the irresponsible culprits as deterrence to others," he urged.

Ongkili said the foreigners arrested by the police must be charged severely and deported immediately, adding "it is ridiculous that such massive busloads of illegal immigrants from various parts of the state can easily reach Kudat and Banggi, obviously bypassing police checkpoints if any."