Kota Marudu: "Mini Karachi"!

Pakistani immigrants have Sabah benefactors?

Queville To

 | December 10, 2012

The recent murder of a teenager has brought the Pakistani scourge in Sabah into focus and its increasing threat to local native women and small businesses.

PENAMPANG: Racism is rife in Sabah and though chauvinism or xenophobia, if you will, has always existed here, it however seems to be gathering steam of late.

A mixture of politics, crime and other social problems related to demographic changes along with discussions and comments on the Internet has erupted into open simmering discontent between Sabahans and the newcomers.

The first to bear the brunt of discrimination and bigotry were the Filipino refugees streaming across the border from civil war-torn Southern Philippines and Indonesians. Now the focus is on Pakistani traders.

The unexplained death of Norikoh Saliwa, a 16-year-old student in Kota Marudu recently, and the subsequent detention of a shop manager of Pakistani origin have, however, stirred anger against immigrants in general and Pakistanis in particular.

Turn any corner in Sabah – even in the most unlikely and remote places in its poor northern reaches or the scrappy east coast of the state – one is bound to see a trader from the sub-continent happily attending to a small grocery store, clothing outlet or selling electrical items and cell phones.

Ask and many will cheerfully admit that they are from Peshawar or some area in the North-West Frontier Province, in northwestern Pakistan near the Khyber Pass on the border with Afghanistan.

They are quiet, polite, speak Malay fairly fluently and keep to themselves. Talk about cricket or any of the stars of the game and they become amiably animated.

All admit that they come from a hardscrabble background in their home country.

Sabah has been good to them and they have become wealthy beyond their dreams.

But questions are now being raised about how these immigrants from an impoverished background have had the funds to start businesses in the state.

Who has given them the money and the licences to operate? Do they have a benefactor at state and federal level?

Some of the shoplots they rent in strategic areas are not cheap. Rentals can be between RM2,500 and RM4,000, the wage of a middle income office worker.

Then there is the cost of the goods in the shop that can range from RM25,000 to over RM100,000.

Serious threat to locals

Where is that stake or seed money coming from?

Many say they have obtained loans but declined to reveal from who but, insist they can make ends meet and even turn a profit despite the interest on the loans.

With an eye on the general election around the corner and growing voter dissatisfaction over immigration, politicians have thrown caution to the winds and joined in the free-for-all immigrant-bashing.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), a local opposition group, which is hoping to resurrect its fortunes on a Sabah-for-Sabahans agenda, expressed on Sunday its “grave concern over the increase in the number of Pakistani traders in the district over the years”.

Party information chief Chong Pit Fah warned that their increasing presence in the district, if left unchecked, could pose a serious threat to the socio-economic well-being of the local residents.

“The business of the local tuck shop operators has been badly affected since these Pakistani traders started to come in to Penampang district in the last few years to set up their tuck shops in almost every nook and corner of the district right up to the Putatan sub-district,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after lodging a police report at the district police station here yesterday, Chong who, is also SAPP Kepayan chief, claimed that a recent random survey carried out by its Kepayan Youth wing found that there were more than 20 tuck shops operated by the Pakistanis in the district.

The survey, he said, was prompted by public concern over the increasing number of Pakistani traders in the district, following the alleged murder of Saliwa.

“SAPP felt compelled to lodge a police report to urge the police as well as the Immigration Department to conduct a thorough check on these Pakistani traders who are operating the tuck shops in the Penampang district.

“We strongly believed they could be abusing their social visit pass, or even having secured their stay and permit to do business through such dubious means like marriages of convenience with the rural native women, some of whom are single mothers,” he said.

BN polls tactic?

Chong claimed to have received numerous reports that many of the Pakistanis coming to the state are targeting rural young native girls for marriages of convenience so that they could secure a longer stay in Sabah as well as to apply for trading licences.

According to sources, the preferred entry point into Sabah for Pakistan nationals and others is an indirect flight from Kuala Lumpur via Labuan.

“The major concern among the native community in Sabah now is that some of these Pakistani traders had returned to their wife and children back in Pakistan for good, thus leaving behind their native wife and children here,” Chong said.

He also claimed that the district of Kota Marudu has a large population of Pakistani nationals and has been dubbed “mini Karachi”.

Chong, who was a former deputy chairman of the Penampang district council, said that the increasing number of Pakistanis in the district could be a government-sanctioned tactic to alter the demographics of various “troublesome” districts in the state in order to produce a favourable outcome for the Barisan Nasional government in any election.

He said there seemed no other justifications for the relevant authorities to allow such a huge number of Pakistani nationals to continue to come into Sabah.

“We know for a fact that the Filipino and the Indonesian workers are here because they are needed by the plantation and construction industries.

“But as for the Pakistanis… what have they contributed to Sabah? To help increase the population of Sabah and to ensure a perpetual rule by the Barisan Nasional?” he asked.

Making the report with Chong at the police station were several SAPP district leaders.

(Source: Free Malaysia Today)

anti-Islam film

KUALA LUMPUR: In condeming the anti-Islam film, ‘Innocence of Muslims’, and a French magazine publication of caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad, the Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMMF) has urged moderates worldwide to unite against sheer fabrication and mischaracterisation of any faith or religion.

GMMF chief executive officer Khalek Awang said, although Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine, might not have broken French law in publishing the caricatures, the foundation liked to protest over the lack of ethical and moral judgement in deliberately creating further provocation, at a time of great calamity and intrusion.

“No quarter should defend it, let alone in the context of freedom of speech since this right is not absolute.

“In a connected and crowded world, no one should make incendiary comments that can trigger the kind of violence that we have witnessed over the last two weeks,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

He said Muslims should have fortitude in dealing with such provocation by not resorting to violence as a means of showing dissatisfaction. — Bernama

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/09/24/foundation-condemns-anti-islam-film-caricatures/#ixzz27LfUgoSg

protect the rights of genuine Sabahans

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee said he approved more than 40,000 Native Customary Rights (NCR) land applications during his two-year tenure as the Chief Minister, which ended the wait of over 30 years for some applicants.

During that period, he said, he had also instructed the Land and Survey Department to expedite the extension of land lease for the interest of the people in Sabah.

Should SAPP govern, the party would allow residents to extend their current lease till 999 years, the first in the country, adding that the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government has yet to resolve the extension of land lease for the industrial area in Kolombong, he said in a talk organized by SAPP, which drew more than 400 people here on Friday.

Yong said NCR land was no longer issued after his tenure, and he promised to improve efficiency in approving land-related affairs as well as bring beneficial policies to the people.

He said he had been involved in solving the issue of illegal immigrants in the State, and stood by the party’s plan to issue Sabah identity cards if the party governed.

The purpose of Sabah IC was to protect the rights of genuine Sabahans, and to differentiate Sabahans from dubious document holders, he explained.

Under the approval of Sabah and Malaysia constitution, SAPP will set up a state department to issue Sabah IC to eligible Malaysian citizens in Sabah.

He said Sabah IC holders would enjoy rights to own lands in the State, as well as incentives given by the State Government or other agencies such as business licence, State Government scholarship and welfare assistance.

Meanwhile, SAPP deputy president cum chairman of the Likas Constituency Liaison Committee Datuk Liew Teck Chan said Sabah has lost its autonomy and basic rights under the BN Government.

“We have lost our rights as every decision on policy had to go through the Federal Government,” he pointed out.

He said even if Pakatan Rakyat took over Putrajaya, Sabah must be governed by a local political party to ensure autonomy.

This is because as the only local opposition party in Sabah, SAPP better understands the issues faced by the locals, he said.

“If the people in Sabah are willing to support SAPP to govern the State in the next general election, our party vows to serve the people.

“What we need is an opportunity, to realise a better future for Sabah.”

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/09/23/40000-ncr-land-applications-approved-under-me-as-cm-yong/#ixzz27LcVD3o5

Another project mat?

Published on: Tuesday, September 18, 2012  Email to a friend      Printer Friendly Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) KK Division wondered whether the Federal Government had discussed with the founding fathers from Sabah, the possibility of granting citizenship to foreigners in the  future, which had invariably led to a migrant population explosion in the State. Its Chief, Christina Liew said, she posed this question on the occasion of Malaysia Day vis-a-vis Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's recent justification for the increase, pointing out that they qualified to be citizens because they have  been staying in Malaysia for "decades" and can speak Bahasa Malaysia. "In their discussions with the founding fathers, was this matter raised by the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) or Cobbold Commission as one of the conditions to form Malaysia? "If you study the IGC Report, nothing was mentioned about any legal provision for the Federal Government to grant citizenship in the event of any influx of migrants to Sabah. "Therefore, who gave Dr Mahathir the mandate to accept these foreigners as citizens merely on the basis of length  of stay and mastering of the national language? That being the case, it can be reckoned that the founding fathers were not fully aware of what lay in store for Sabah when agreeing to join then Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak in  forming the Federation of Malaysia. "Perhaps if they had been told about the foreseeable 'invasion' of foreigners who would be given citizenship status, they might not have agreed to join the other states to form Malaysia," she said in a statement, here. As a consequence of becoming a part of Malaysia, Liew said the present generation of Malaysians in Sabah is now suffering from the overwhelming presence of foreigners on our shores. She further contended that it is public knowledge that many foreign migrants were given blue identity cards (ICs)  "overnight" after entering Sabah through the back door. "They didn't have to stay for 'decades' as claimed by Dr Mahathir. So what is he talking about?" she asked. Sabah saw a huge increase in population during Dr Mahathir's tenure as premier from 1981 to 2003. According to replies provided in Parliament last year, Sabah's populace numbered 651,304 in 1970 and grew to 929,299 a decade later (1980). But in the two decades following 1980, the State's population rose significantly by a staggering 1.5 million people, reaching 2,468,246 by 2000. Based on media reports, as of 2010, this number has swelled further to 3.12 million, with foreigners making  up a sizeable 27 per cent or 889,799 of the total population.

Gazetted NCR land indefeasible

SARIKEI: Native customary rights (NCR) land which had been gazetted as Bumiputera communal reserve under Section 6 of the Land Code through the government’s perimeter survey initiative are indefeasible.

Issuance of gazette notices upon completion of perimeter survey process meant the NCR land concerned belong to the community as stakeholders.

Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem said this when presenting gazette notices to the headmen of 44 longhouses from Pakan and Julau area whose NCR land had been delineated under the perimeter survey initiative.

The headmen receiving the gazette notices from Adenan at a ceremony held at the Divisional Land and Survey office here yesterday comprised 22 from Jalan Pakan/Sesco and Jalan Pakan Entabai, Pakan; 22 from Sungai Genega, Ulu Kota, Pakan; and four from Sungai Ensiring area, Julau.

“The NCR land gazetted as Bumiputera communal reserve under Section 6 of the Land Code belongs to the rightful claimants. Nobody can dispute it and if the government were to acquire them for development purposes, it has to compensate the land owners accordingly,” he stressed.

Adenan advised the land owners concerned to continue rendering their co-operation to the Land and Survey staff to enable the survey of individual plots to be carried out expeditiously and smoothly.

The gazette notices he issued yesterday involved a total of 9,835 hectares (ha) of NCR land in the three areas surveyed. There were about 60,000 ha of NCR land from 10 areas in Pakan and Julau District surveyed under the perimeter survey initiative but yet to be gazetted Bumiputera Communal Reserves.

The areas were Uli Sungai Wak/Buku involving 6,790 ha belonging to 15 longhouses; 6,139 ha in Nanga Wak Pakan (15 longhouses) ; 2,303 ha along Jalan Wuak/Pakan (35 longhouses); 6,441 ha in Sungai Julau/Ulu Sungai Sugai (26 longhouses); 4,262 ha in Sungai Wak, Pakan (16 longhouses); 6,453 ha along Jalan Ulu Kota, Pakan (21 longhouses); 4,213 ha in Sungai Julau (eight longhouses), 9,062 ha in Ulu Pedanum (33 longhouses and 6,929 ha in Sungai Pakan.

He advised the NCR landowners to be patient as Land and Survey Department was still processing the gazette notices.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/14/gazetted-ncr-land-indefeasible-adenan/#ixzz23aBtJDfX

“Project IC” or “Projek M”

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim suggested today that the government had deliberately refused to have the Sabah Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) probe those responsible for the alleged “citzenships-for-votes” deal with foreigners in order to protect certain personalities. The opposition leader said the entire RCI was flawed as its terms were lacking details and do not include identifying those responsible or recommending punishment on them. “These are major criminal acts, particularly when it involves corruption and cheating and falsifying documents... these are serious flaws, but of course, these are not part of the RCI’s terms of reference,” he told reporters after a function announcing the crossover of another senior Barisan Nasional (BN) here. Dr M "clearly nervous" The newly-established RCI on Sabah’s illegal immigrants has been tasked to investigate if foreigners in the state have been unlawfully awarded Malaysian ICs or citizenships and included in the electoral roll. But the panel’s terms, announced in Kota Kinabalu yesterday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, do not include a probe to identify those involved in handing out citizenships unlawfully. The opposition have often laid blame on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the state’s extraordinary spike in migrant population, claiming he had spearheaded “Project IC” or “Projek M”. The “Projek IC” initiative was purportedly kicked off in the early 1980s during Dr Mahathir’s tenure to give out Malaysian ICs to illegal immigrants in Sabah, in order to help the ruling BN stay in power. “Yes, it seems Dr Mahathir is clearly nervous about the RCI,” Anwar said here. “But they (BN) must have given their assurance that they will not pick at who is at fault, who are the people taking money or falsifying documents and why... so that means the entire RCI is just flawed,” he said. Just a gimmick Anwar added that Sabah voters were likely to have little regard for the RCI, noting the government’s years of refusal to set up the panel. He pointed out that the decades-old problem could not be so easily resolved within the six months deadline given to the panel to make its recommendations to the government. The PKR de facto leader suggested that the RCI was merely a political ploy, referring to its formation so close to the coming polls, and added that like the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms, the panel was unlikely to solve Sabah’s problem with illegal immigrants. “This is just like a gimmick. They (the government) are not serious. I believe most Sabahans would not have any regard for this RCI because they have learned from the past on how their request to form the panel was not heeded,” he said. Najib’s announcement on the RCI’s reference terms yesterday comes just two weeks after the twin exits of two senior Sabah BN lawmakers – Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing and Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin. Both men cited their dissatisfaction with the government’s delay on the RCI, which the Cabinet had already agreed to form on February 8 this year. In Sabah, the problem of illegal immigrants has been dominating every election since 1970 as the local natives believe that foreigners are to blame for the state’s economic, social and security problems. Some 27 per cent of Sabah’s 3.12 million population are said to be foreigners.

88 percent of urban voters in Sabah want the RCI to be established.

Sabah illegals RCI must be given powers to act, says panel

By Ida Lim

May 20, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — A bipartisan roundtable has urged that the proposed Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants being given citizenship in Sabah be given power to identify and take action against those responsible.

Yesterday's panel discussion, which included United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation secretary general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau and former senator Dr Chong Eng Leong from PKR, also demanded an "official explanation and justification."

The roundtable was hosted by Proham, a group of former human rights commissioners, and included leading members of civil society and the public service in Sabah including the National Registration Department (NRD).

"It was proposed that the RCI must have the powers to investigate the unusual rise of the Sabah population... (and) specific cases by which foreigners have even secured the status of Sabah born identification cards.

"Among the terms of reference (TOR) must be a provision to identify who was responsible for this situation and appropriate action be taken on them," Proham said in a statement today on the problem which has been blamed for the rise in social and economic problems in the state.

Dr Chong, a former senator who quit Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), has repeatedly accused former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of giving out at least 600,000 citizenships in a campaign that began prior to the 1994 state polls in order to ensure Umno’s political takeover of Sabah.

Participants were also "perplexed in the slow response of federal leaders" in addressing the Sabah citizenship problem, saying this may cause a "loss of confidence" that they would act "in the best interest of Sabah".

Sabah BN has been pushing for an RCI for months, with Upko president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok saying in February that the Cabinet had agreed to form one.

However, Datuk Seri Najib Razak's silence on the issue during a February visit to Sabah had "angered and embarrassed" Sabah BN leaders, who have been trumpeting their success in pushing for an RCI.

This sparked rumours and Internet news reports of the possibility the prime minister had backpedalled on the Cabinet's decision, with some even claiming a "secret meeting" of Umno warlords had warned the BN chief it would lose a sizeable chunk of votes if the RCI were to lead to a crackdown on Sabah's large population of illegal immigrants.

The opposition has alleged that illegal immigrants have been allowed into Sabah and given MyKads and voting rights to help the ruling coalition retain control.

Proham also said "rights of refugees and migrant workers" should not be violated "in the efforts to enhance the citizenship position of Sabahans."

"They (the participants) do not blame the foreigners and also recognise them as victims in the system."

They also said the RCI must make recommendations because a "large number of families including the children born locally of these foreigners" will be impacted.

They asked for the TOR to be made public and for independent members to be appointed to the RCI.

Some of the panellists included Proham chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun, who has been mooted as a member of the RCI, and Human Rights Commission's (Suhakam) Jannie Lasimbang.

A recent survey by independent pollsters Merdeka Centre found that 88 percent of urban voters in Sabah want the RCI to be established.

NRD clarifies on mobile exercise

Published on: Tuesday, March 27, 2012

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Kota Kinabalu: The State National Registration Department (NRD) has no plans to stop the late birth registration exercise in Semporna.

However, it would now focus, instead, on registering students without birth certificates in the respective schools in the district. Its Director Ismail Ahmad said as for those not going to school, they should go to the NRD office in the district.

Ismail also clarified that the statement by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman on 40,000 without birth certificates applied to the whole of Sabah and not just in Senallang state constituency.

"I hope the media get their facts correct as irresponsible reporting could unnecessarily incite the public," he said, stressing that what he stated as published was that only 3,067 were registered without birth certificates in Senallang.

Nevertheless, he said, the said figure referred to only those who had registered and who would be subject to screening. Applications would be rejected if they do not meet the strict conditions.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran, also said the Home Minister's directive was to register local children not only confined to Semporna but statewide.

He pointed out that such directive was for local students already enrolled at various schools in Sabah but were without birth certificates.

"I believe the figure 40,000 given by the Ministry is just an approximate and not final as all applicants had to go through strict screening by NRD as well as by the Ministry," said Nasir.

Thus, he urged certain quarters not to erroneously jump to conclusion that Senallang had 40,000 children without birth certificates.

He said Semprona constituency comprising Senallang, Sulabayan and Bongaya had a total of about 40,000 voters while the population was about 100,000 including children. "So Senallang having 40,000 registering for late birth certificates is unbelievable."

He said all school children who come forward to apply for late birth registration are accompanied by parents. If the parents cannot produce valid documents such a genuine ICs or prove they are Malaysian, its impossible for NRD to entertain the application.

"So do not accuse NRD of simply issuing documents as they like," he said adding that the Government has the noble intention to help children born to Malaysian parents without birth certificates.

Nasir said Semporna constituency has about 49 islands, of which about 20 are occupied and most are very far away. For transportation to the mainland they depend on their traditional boats called "Lepa Lepa".

"And these are the children mostly without birth certificates," said Nasir He pointed out that when these island people realised the importance of education, they start sending their children to nearby schools and these are the children being referred to.

Nasir said normally during enrollment into Primary One birth certificates are not mandatory.

However, when they are in Primary Six and sit for examination they required to furnish birth certificates and the problem starts when parents could not produce them.

According to him from Feb. 29 to March 23 some 4,112 applications were received by NRD for birth and late birth certificate while 1,112 applying for MyKad and 446 for Malaysian citizenship for the whole of Semporna.

On suggestions, including by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, that the NRD Mobile Service in Semporna be stopped immediately, Nasir said, "I leave it to the Home Ministry as they have the authority to carry out or stop it".

PUTRAJAYA – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today announced the cancellation of the Public Service New Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) which was to have been effective on Jan 1 this year, and said civil servants will enjoy an improved version of the current Malaysian Remuneration Scheme (SMS).

The Prime Minister also announced the setting up of a commission comprising the relevant interest groups to make a comprehensive and holistic study of the remuneration system for civil servants.

He also announced salary adjustments of 13 per cent for employees in the management and professional group from grade 1 to 54, nine per cent for the Jusa A, B and C grades, eight per cent for the staff grades 2 and 3, and seven per cent for staff grade one and the Chief Secretary to the Government.

Najib said the existing matrix salary schedule will be improved to reflect minimum-maximum salaries with increments ranging from RM80 to RM320 for grades 1 to 54. The annual increment for Jusa grades will remain according to the SSM. – BERNAMA

PUTRAJAYA - Pinosunud di Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak do amu potilombuson iri SBPA di napalan mantad di mingkaiai toun nakatalib. Ka disio, tilombuson iri sitem SSM miampai piipiro ahal poburuon po kaug. SUndung ingkaa nga poinsawaton kasari gaji kukumaraja porinta. Montok kukumaraja grid 1 gisom 54 soginayo 13 paratus o koingkawason om 9 paratus montok gird Jusa A, B om C; 8 paratus montok kukumaraja grade 2 om 3, om 7 paratus montok di kukumaraja grid 1 kaampai no iri Woyoon Monunurat the porinta.

Tumanud di Najib, maya komogoton SSM kaanu iri kumaraja porinta koingkawasan gaji tikid toun soginumu Rm80 gisom RM320 monto grid 1 gisom 54. Amu pinoundali grid gaji Jusa.