The proceedings by the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah will continue on July 1 to 5, its secretary, Saripuddin Kasim, said today.

In a statement issued in Kota Kinabalu, he said the proceeding would be held in the Federal Court in the Sabah capital, from 9.30am.

So far, 139 witnesses had testified during the seven sessions held since Jan 14, he added.

Last March, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah extended the RCI proceedings by six months, from March 21 to Sept 20, this year to enable parties to complete the investigation and compilation of reports according to Section 5 of the Commission of Enquiry Act 1950 (Act 119).

The commission is headed by former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Steve Shim Lip Kiong.

The panel members comprise former Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Professor Dr Kamaruzzaman Ampon, former Kuala Lumpur police chief Henry Chin Poy Wu, former Sabah State Secretary KY Mustapha and former Sabah deputy chief minister Herman J Luping, who is also former Sabah attorney-general.

- Bernama