Historian wants illegal immigrants recognised

Historian Ramlah Adam today suggested Sabah should recognise its illegal immigrants as they have a common heritage and cultural roots.

Testifying at the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah, she said people living near the borders in Sabah and those just across the border have a sense of kinship due to shared history.

The people in southern Philippines and Sabah paid homage to the Sulu Sultanate in the past. It is difficult to put a political border because even though the sultanate is over, the people in this region continue to practice the system and share a kinship.

"Based on history, these people do not view themselves as illegal immigrants, it is the law that see them as such," she told the commission as the first witness today.

Regardless of the country's effort to regulate its borders, Ramlah (above) said these people will continue to attempt to enter what they perceive as a common historical territory.

"Due to this shared heritage and brotherhood, some of them even have families here, they should be given a chance for political recognition," she said.

‘Cost too high to send them back’

She added that the state should adopt a more "open attitude" and acknowledge them on humanitarian grounds.

"If we send them back, the cost will be high and they will still come back," she said.

She added that this issue should not be seen as a political issue nor should the general election have a bearing on it.

Meanwhile, the second witness, Ranjit Singh, also a historian, explained how the demographic of Sabah evolved from the 16th century to the present day.

Ranjit noted that the Sabah population transformed when it came under the influence of the Sulu Sultanate, followed by the influx of Chinese immigrants during the British rule in the 18th century, and the sudden boom of foreigners by 1970, which comprised a quarter of Sabah's 1.7 million population.

The first two witnesses today was meant to provide a background of Sabah and lay the groundwork for the commission's investigation.

48 witnesses to be called

In the RCI opening statement this morning, conducting officer Manoj Kurup said ten police officers and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had been appointed to carry out its investigation.

Since the commencement of investigations on Oct 1, a total of 184 statements had been recorded, he said.

During the course of the inquiry, Manoj (left) said academics, government officials including those from the Chief Minister's Department and former Internal Security Act detainees would be called to testify.

Thus far, a total of 48 witnesses are expected to testify. The first session, which began today, will conclude on Jan 18, followed by another two sessions on Jan 28 to Feb 1 and Feb 22 to 27.

The RCI will look into the factors behind Sabah's population boom and whether immigrants were illegally granted citizenship and subsequently included in the electoral roll.

It will also study the social implications as a result of Sabah's huge foreign population and the standard operating procedures for identity cards and citizenship to immigrants.

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