Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Joseph Pairin Kitingan today called for a final settlement of the illegal immigrant problem in Sabah, literally describing it as a "wound" in the 1Malaysia "body" that has to be "surgically" treated.         

He said the problem remained in the minds of the Sabah people although the government had taken various measures to tackle it, including through the implementation of the 5P programme.      

"We hope the programme will continue to be implemented and achieve success. There have been reports and interpretations that unless the illegal immigrant problem is resolved properly, it may undermine national security and the people's safety," he said at the opening of the 26th congress of PBS at the KDCA Hall, Penampang.      
The congress was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, state assembly speaker Salleh Said Keruak and Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.      

Pairin, who is a Sabah deputy chief minister, said the PBS supported all the government efforts thus far to overcome the illegal immigrant problem, including the use of the biometric registration system.      

He also said that several BN component parties, including the PBS, would like the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry to arrive at a final settlement of the problem.     

The PBS seeks to have the commission set up next year, he added. 

Pairin said he hoped that other issues, including employment opportunities, power sharing and opportunities for contractors from Sabah, would be looked into as well.     

He said these issues should be resolved to ensure that the people continue to support the present government.      

Pairin said the PBS fully supported the suggestion by the deputy prime minister for everyone to work hard as a team to ensure a bigger victory for the BN in the next general election.      

Pre-election boon for Hindus, Sikhs

Meanwhile Sabah will receive RM350,000 to build three Hindu temples and a Sikh temple.     

State MIC chairman V Jothy said the allocation was given by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.       

"A sum of RM200,000 is allocated to build the Sri Murugan Temple in Tawau, Sri Subramaniar Temple in Lok Kawi Camp and Pasupathinath Temple in Kota Kinabalu, and RM50,000 for building a Sikh gurdwara, also in Kota Kinabalu.      

Jothy said the large allocation for Sri Murugan Temple was for the preparation of a Hindu festival celebration next year called Maha Kumba Bisegam, held every 12 years.          

- Bernama