Don't doubt screening process, says Pairin
Monday, 10 July 2006 (Source: Daily Express)

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the State Government's sincerity in forming the special Cabinet committee to screen squatters from Sri Tanjung to be relocated to an area bordering Maang in Penampang should not be questioned.

"The screening process was done to fulfil what was asked by the people because we know there were some uneasiness and doubts over the authenticity of the citizenship of the Sri Tanjung squatters," he said.

"So, is there anything wrong for the Government to set up the committee just like is there anything wrong for Suhakam to be formed?" he asked when met after launching the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Tanjung Aru Youth and Wanita annual meeting, Sunday.

"If Sipaun has means to help the committee he is more than welcome to do so but don't say the committee is useless".

Pairin was asked to comment on Suhakam Vice-Chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun's reservations on the effectiveness of the special Cabinet committee. Pairin who chairs the committee said he could not quite understand Sipaun's stand who had been in the Government for a long time and supposed to know the mechanism of its machinery.

"We are sincere in forming the committee but whether it is effective or not we can only give our level best. Towards this end, it is the same with Suhakam (when it was formed) we did not ask whether it will be effective or not," he said.

He said just like when the police are conducting an investigation "do we immediately question their effectiveness or do we give our support? "If we want to achieve things we should give assistance and not just criticise," he said, adding that Sipaun's comments need to be looked at from several perspectives.

"If his intention is good we support (just) like we support Suhakam." Pairin said the effectiveness of the committee also depends on the co-operation from the National Registration Department (NRD).

He said the committee was still waiting for the list of names to be scrutinised and verified by the NRD. He said the committee hoped the NRD would be coming back to them soon to enable follow up actions to be taken.

"I hope they can hurry up. Otherwise we might need to go and have a dialogue with them (NRD) and scrutinise their methodology of keeping information," he said, when asked whether there was a deadline for the NRD to return the results to the committee.

"If the committee is not satisfied we will be making queries and we will be asking for assistance from others, perhaps Sipaun. If possible we need help from everyone," he said.

He said the Chief Minister had indicated the State Government's commitment in weeding out the illegal immigrant problem in the state and the people of Sabah must assist in this endeavour.

"The people must inform the authorities if they know of illegals residing in their area as we know there are people who are renting out their houses to these people," he said.

"We want to do our part, everybody including Suhakam," he said. Earlier, Pairin in his speech said PBS faced many challenges even before it was formed 21 years ago and the party leadership was thankful for the unwavering support from members.

During its nine-year rule, he said PBS managed to rectify and take efforts for the benefit of the people and future generation.

He assured that now that the party is back in the BN fold, it would continue to work with the Government to address the development disparity, illegal immigrants, fake IC as well issuance of genuine IC through dubious means.

PBS Tanjung Aru chief, Edward Yong in his speech called for the party president's post to continue to be held by "nobody else but Pairin".

This year is a party election year for PBS.