Have illegals deadline: PBS

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 8 (Daily Express) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) on Saturday suggested the Government set 2012 as the target year to solve the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah once and for all.

President Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan proposed that a special committee involving no less than three State Cabinet members be set up to show the Government is really serious in addressing the problem.

He said it was evident that the problem needed a comprehensive solution after menacing Sabah for so long.

"So far there is still no concrete and serious action to address the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah. Previous actions were only temporary in nature and not continuous," he said.

In his welcoming speech in conjunction with the 24th PBS Congress at Magellan Sutera, Pairin said at the moment, the illegal immigrants were still loitering in town and kampung areas.

"They act as though Sabah is their home country. Numerous business opportunities have also been taken over by these groups who also compete with the locals for jobs," he said.

"PBS understands the need for foreign workers in the construction and plantation sectors but what we don't agree is the procurement of illegal workers," he said.

He hoped Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would take steps to resolve the problem once and for all.

"The single largest issue in Sabah, in which all Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and opposition parties will be supportive of, is the solution to the illegal immigrant problem," he said.

Pairin also called on Najib as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Sabah and Sarawak Development Affairs to look into the nationalisation of the federal service.

He said it is timely that eligible civil servants from Sabah and Sarawak are appointed as heads of departments in ministries and important Federal agencies like the Economic Planning Unit, Finance, Education, Foreign Ministry and others.

There should be at least a minimum appointment of calibre officers in these important ministries and agencies, he said.

Pairin who is also Deputy Chief Minister cum Infrastructure Development Minister said these appointments were important to gain vital inputs and ideas from the two states.

On another note, he said PBS welcomed the spirit of the 1Malaysia concept and fully supported the agenda that the Government wishes to implement in strengthening unity among the multi-racial people in the country.

For Sabah, he said the concept of unity was not alien but that there were still several aspects that needed to be looked into and given serious attention by the Government.

"If this can be achieved it will give a big positive impact to the image and performance of the Government in its efforts to achieve the National Key Results Area (NKRA)," he said.

Pairin was happy that the leadership at the Federal level was beginning to realise and trying their best to enhance education levels in Sabah and Sarawak.

"It is apt and most relevant for the government to turn education as one of the indexes where achievement, effectiveness and its standard is measured and monitored," he said.

He added that the process of improving the quality and standard of education in Sabah and Sarawak was still facing huge difficulty, needing political will from the government.