TUESDAY-12 AUGUST 2008- ILLEGALS WITH MYKADS BIGGER PROBLEM:UPKO

Illegals with MyKads bigger problem: Upko

RANAU:

In the efforts to tackle the illegal immigrants issue in Sabah, a bigger challenge than paperless foreigners is illegal immigrants who hold MyKads or other valid documents, said Upko President Tan Sri Bernard Dompok. “We all know that they are obviously illegal immigrants and yet they carry around valid identification documents,” he said when officiating at the Triennial General Meeting for Upko Kundasang, Karanaan and Paginatan branches here recently. Stressing that the issue is a major challenge to the Government, he said Upko wants a quick solution to the matter and is calling for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to track down the source and root of the problem. “We remain with our stand that those responsible or involved in the issuance of MyKads to the illegal immigrants should be brought to court and given heavy penalties for betraying the Malaysian citizens and the Country,” said Dompok, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Penampang Member of Parliament. He said the newly launched massive operation to rid the State of illegal immigrants would not do away with the root of the problem. Meanwhile, Dompok said his efforts to ensure higher posts in the Federal Government Departments in East Malaysia are held by Bumiputeras from Sabah and Sarawak are for the benefit of the people in the two States. “Many people have misinterpreted my struggle and described it as siding with my own people, but actually the efforts were made because it is the right of the Bumiputeras from both States, especially those who are eligible for the posts,” he said. Dompok said Upko is not afraid to highlight any issue, especially when doing so would benefit the people at large. “We must be ready to fight for the truth and rid the untruth,” he said, adding that the Party would continue to fight for the rights of the people, especially in relation to illegal immigrants in the State. Earlier, Upko Vice President Datuk Ewon Ebin in his speech said it is not wrong for the Party to fight for the rights of the Kadazandusun Murut community, adding that other parties are doing the same such as Umno who are fighting for Malay rights, MIC for the Chinese community and MCA for the Indians. “These claims voiced out by the Upko leaders are not wrong and should not be questioned, they are not made for personal gain but are based on the motions raiscd by Party members during our recent Congress,” he said. Meanwhile, Dompok said the three branches might he merged into one branch in the future to further improve service and reduce the Party’s administration costs. Also present at the meeting were Ranau Member of Parliament Datuk Siringan Gubat, who is also Upko Vice President, senior politician ‘Tan Sri Ghani Gilong as well, as observers from other Barisan Nasional component parties.