PBS vows to keep raising illegals issue
Thursday, 21 September 2006 (Source: New Straits Times)

PENAMPANG -- Parti Bersatu Sabah has vowed to continue raising the illegal immigrants’ issue until it is resolved.

Reiterating its strong stand against the large presence of illegals in the state, the party has renewed its call for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to deal with it.

"The problem is becoming complex by the day and concrete measures need to be taken urgently to solve it," said PBS president Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

The party had, since its formation in 1985, called for a thorough investigation into the problem and for concrete measures to be taken to solve it.

About 500,000 illegals, mostly Filipinos and Indonesians, are believed to be still in Sabah despite several operations to detain and repatriate them.

Pairin said many of the illegals were involved in crime and have registered as voters using MyKads obtained through dubious means.

"Operations to flush out the illegals must be intensified," Pairin said in his presidential speech at the PBS 21st annual congress at the Hongkod Koisaan here yesterday.

Pairin lauded the recent setting up of a Cabinet committee to deal with the issue under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"The setting up of the committee shows the government acknowledges the seriousness of the problem," he said.

Pairin said the PBS would fully support measures taken by the government to deal with the problem.

He also said the party was solidly behind the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Meanwhile, Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Jahid Jahim is PBS new Youth chief.

Jahid, 48, garnered 127 votes to defeat incumbent Youth chief Almudin Kaidah who polled 109 votes.

Almudin, who was the party's Youth chief for three terms, was gracious in defeat.

"Defeat is part and parcel of a contest," he said.