PBS to police : Intensify efforts and ignore political interference
Tuesday, 5 March 2002

KOTA MARUDU : Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today urged security authorities involved in the present crackdown on illegal immigrants to intensify their efforts and not allow political interference to hinder execution of their duties.

Its deputy president, Dr Maximus Ongkili, said the police and other security personnel involved in the present exercise were doing a highly commendable job but there was real need for sustained efforts and wider coverage of operation.

In a press release issued here, Ongkili said the police should not allow political interference to hinder their task and instead take stern action against those who might attempt to interfere.

"This is a rare opportunity for all the people of Sabah to join hands and cooperate to ensure that the present security operation was truly successful.

"Anybody who loves this state and the nation would surely want to support and assist the efforts taken by the government to rid Sabah of illegal immigrants.

"It is unthinkable that there should be local people or groups who would want to hinder the present security action," he stressed.

Ongkili who is also Bandau member of parliament disclosed that there were reports that police attempts to demolish some illegal squatter structures in several villages of Kota Marudu several days ago were hampered by some village heads and local politicians who insisted that the illegal owners were locals when in fact they were aliens.

"Apparently, police could only demolish a limited number of squatter houses initially as a result of the alleged interference.

"I call on the police to take stern action against such irresponsible people. Village heads that shelter illegal immigrants should be sacked immediately," he urged.

Ongkili called on the police to intensify efforts in flushing out illegals in the northern districts especially Kudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas where thousands were known to exist.

"The police and other security personnel should undertake a major and thorough screening of the squatter colonies at Kg. Rosob of Pitas because the area is known to be populated by thousands of illegal foreigners previously employed by several timber companies nearby," he explained.

He claimed that many of the illegals from the Rosob area were found daily in Kota Marudu town selling foreign cigarettes and other items but no action had been taken on them so far.

According to latest figures released by the police, some 1,951 illegal immigrants had so far been arrested through the present crackdown, of which 27 were from Kudat.

Ongkili described the figure for Kudat as "rather meager" and questioned why no figures were released for Kota Marudu and Pitas adding, "I hope it is not a sign that the crackdown in these places has not been successful."