Media statement by Lim Kit Siang on Saturday, 18^th February 2012: 

Sabahans entitled to a clear and unequivocal answer why Najib has not announced the formation of RCI on illegal immigrants in Sabah

I am most disappointed that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has ended his two-day visit to Sabah without making the widely-touted announcement on the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah.

Sabahans and Malaysians have been given to understand that the Cabinet had approved the establishment of a RCI on illegal immigrants in Sabah and that Najib would be making the announcement during his Sabah visit this week.

Sabahans and Malaysians are entitled to know why Najib has failed “deliver” on this issue during his Sabah trip and whether the claim of certain Sabah Ministers that the Cabinet had made a final decision on the establishment of a RCI on illegal immigrants in Sabah is mere “hot air” without any basis grounded on facts or whether this is another example of the Cabinet being subordinate and subservient to the dictates of UMNO hegemony?

For more than three decades, I have personally been raising the issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah, creating political, economic, social and security problems for Sabahans and making them feel that they have become foreigners in their own homeland because they have been outnumbered by the unchecked influx of illegal immigrants.

Immediately after the 2008 general elections, I had sought to move a motion in the first meeting of the new Parliament to fulfil the three-decade dream of Sabahans for a RCI on illegal immigrants but this effort was thwarted by the refusal of Sabah Barisan Nasional MPs to support the RCI motion.

I had thought that at last there would be a RCI into illegal immigrants both in Sabah and throughout Malaysia but this has proved to be premature.

Sabahans are entitled to a clear and unequivocal answer from Najib whether there is going to be a RCI on illegal immigrants in Sabah and Malaysia, its full term of reference, the composition and most important of all, the time line particularly on whether there would be time for the RCI not only to submit its report and recommendations but also for their implementation before the next general elections.

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Ipoh Timor