YOURSAY | 'The PSS has not been fully explained to the people. It is not a passport nor work permit…'.
After Kimanis loss, Sabah DCM moots sending refugees to third country
Anonymous 1981: The Sabah Temporary Pass (Pas Sementara Sabah, PSS) is a replacement of previously issued documents of identity. As per the status of the refugees, nothing has changed.
This PSS has not been fully explained to the people. It is not a passport nor work permit, although named a "pass". The opposition played this up, misinforming the people.
Sending these refugees to a third country? Which one? Will the refugees go? A thorough study needs to be done.
Kim Quek: The Sabah state government should go beyond abandoning the PSS, which had been a tipping point of Warisan’s defeat in the Kimanis by-election.
It should take this opportunity to seek a follow-up to the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) report on this unsettled illegal immigrant issue, which was released in December 2014, and then placed in cold storage thereafter, knowing that this issue may sway future elections.
This RCI was intended to ascertain facts and seek solutions to the mess left over by Project, IC which was initiated by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his first tenure as prime minister.
Project IC had robbed original Sabahans of their sovereignty through deliberate massive influx of illegal immigrants, mainly from the southern Philippines, by illegally issuing identity cards to them and illegally registering them as voters (known as phantom voters).
A proper follow-up agenda should, therefore, seek to cleanse the Sabah electoral roll of these phantom voters and remove their illegal citizenship from the national registry.
Such an operation, if successfully carried out, will not only return justice to the original Sabahans, but will also gain their eternal gratitude and support, which will be manifested in all future elections.
The Wakandan: A good move, Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal. Please do not stop at that but find an effective way to solve the problem in your state.
The trust deficit must be concretely addressed. You will be rewarded well by the people.
Yes, always do the right thing. Be transparent whenever possible. Sabah has a history of being cheated by those in authority and power. Now is the time to set things straight by doing the right thing and be seen as doing the right thing.
But what is the plan? Illegal immigrants and foreigners without documents have been a long-standing problem. It has caused great anxiety and fear among the locals who do not want uncontrolled migration into their state.
Worse still, statistics show that the number of foreigners has even overshadowed that of the locals.
Who can really address this will surely be a hero.
Steven For Malaysia: Yes, (scrapping the PSS is a) good decision.
We aren't so well organised that we can ensure the PSS holders wouldn't abuse the document given, and even get PR (permanent residency) or citizenship.
Bornean: But despite this decision, the illegal immigrant problem is still there. Whatever pass you come up with will be rejected by the opposition.
Let’s hope those who reject the PSS can come up with a better solution, rather than just talk big.
Anonymous_0668: Plug the porous border to stop and control the influx of illegal immigrants. Otherwise, it is like filling a leaking milo tin.
Illegal Malaysians in other countries are jailed and deported; as a sovereign country, it is our right to deport illegals back and to do so immediately.
The PSS gives the wrong message. Immigrants have to follow our due process for recognition.
In some countries, this is judged on how much value they can contribute to the nation. It’s not just making up the numbers and changing demographics.
If they meet our criteria (excluding creed or belief), then allow them in. Otherwise, no.
Alamak: If the PSS had been implemented, all those given the PSS ought to be given citizenship status after 12 years of residing in this country, in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
This is provided they can speak Malay and have good character certificates from their Malaysian employers. We should not worry about our demographic balance in the same manner that Singapore does.
Odysseus: But does the Home Ministry respect that it’s in the Constitution?
Kangkong: Why send the undocumented migrants in Sabah to a third country? Send them all back to where they came from - the Philippines.
Anthony Chan: If you send stateless people back to “where they came from”, this may develop into issues similar to the Rohingya of Myanmar.
PW Cheng: A government that listens to the people (to scrap the PSS) is a dawn of a new era. Sabah, please take the lead and let this new phenomenon spread to Peninsular Malaysia.
We need this attitude badly in the peninsula, after more than 60 years under BN, where their politicians think the rakyat are fools.
We need to send this strong message to Pakatan Harapan.
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