PBS to ACA: Here's the proof

KOTA KINABALU, Feb 5 (Daily Express) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) wants those involved in the illegal issuance of genuine Malaysian ICs to foreigners to be charged in open court so that more facts on these illegal activities can be unearthed.

Its Secretary-General Datuk Radin Malleh said placing the culprits under the Internal Security Act (ISA) was among ways to curb the crime.

"But to me, it's better to take them to open court so that we can get to the bottom of it," he said, adding that it would be difficult to get such information if they were arrested under the ISA.

Radin, who is also an Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, was speaking to reporters when leading a delegation of PBS leaders to submit a compilation of information and evidence on such activities to Sabah ACA Director Hajah Latifah Md Yatim at the Federal Administrative Complex in Jalan Sulaman, Monday.

The other PBS leaders were Information Chief Johnny Mositun, Youth Chief Jahid Jahim, Wanita Chief Datin Jamilah Sulaiman and Supreme Council member Dr Chong Eng Leong.

Radin said PBS believed the information some of them obtained with the help of the public is sufficient for the ACA or relevant authorities to initiate investigations.

"We are submitting reports that have been compiled since 1990 on the issue of illegal immigrants getting ICs through the back door that we have been made to understand has been going on for a long time in Sabah," he said.

He added that the party's move was in response to Latifah asking the public having any knowledge and evidence on those suspected of issuing Malaysian ICs illegally to foreigners to forward it to the State ACA.

The call last month was to enable the agency nab more suspects following the arrests of four suspects including a senior National Registration Department officer at the State NRD office for selling genuine ICs to foreigners for up to RM18,000 a piece.

"Since it involves citizenship and our sovereignty, I think it is our responsibility to give any information on these culprits so that they can be brought to book," said Radin.

"It is up to the ACA and relevant authorities to investigate and they should know what to do," he said when asked if the information furnished by PBS to ACA involved names of top leaders.

PBS also provided input on the cases of people obtaining ICs using statutory declarations backdated to 1987, which a research conducted by the party showed to be dubious.

"So we hope ACA will be able to conduct investigations into how many of these ICs have been issued," he said, adding that in this issue the "ICs are genuine but the people are 'fake'" since they gave false personal information.

Radin who is also Melalap Assemblyman said just like other countries, foreigners could apply for citizenship but that it must be in accordance to procedures stated in Article 3 of the Federal Constitution.

"That is why we have come to submit the report and I think it will be suffice for the ACA to initiate investigations," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Chong said among the information provided by PBS included the case in 1995-1996 and 1998 when 87 people, including two former Sabah NRD directors as well as 17 personnel were arrested under ISA pertaining to the selling of Malaysia ICs to foreigners.

Also included was the Project IC issue where Malaysian ICs were issued to foreigners with directive from the powers-that-be, an abuse of power which was revealed during the 1999 Likas Election petition through an unchallenged testimony of a witness.

PBS also submitted police reports lodged by the party and letters written to NRD by PBS regarding the holders of these Project IC whose names were found in the Sabah Electoral Rolls amounting to some 73,000 names with corresponding old IC numbers given.

"Abuse of power is a form of corruption. We hope ACA will seriously look into our submission and take those responsible to justice. Our Prime Minister had said recently that 'we do not want to pretend that everything is okay. We do not want to be in a state of denial. Tell the truth, even if it is painful'", he said.

Dr Chong said PBS' persistent stand on this perennial issue on illegal immigrants and Project IC was not meant to be seen as anti-Federal but because "we are patriotic to our country".