SABAH RCI Contrary to proposals made by several major Kadazan parties, former Sabah chief minister Chong Kah Kiat today said that re-issuing identity cards to Sabahans would not solve the existing illegal immigrants problems there.

NONEChong (second from right) told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on immigrants in Sabah that there is no guarantee that immigrants would not be able to obtain the re-issued ICs as well.

"What is the guarantee that the illegals would not get that IC, too?" he asked while testifying in front of the commission this morning.

"Isn't it better to face the problem head-on?" asked Chong, who served as Sabah CM from 2001 to 2003.

Chong also said that the problem of illegal immigrants in the state is something that Sabah must solve on its own.

“Don’t pass the buck to Parlianent or the federal government,” he said.

“This is for the state leadership to solve, let us solve the problem ourselves,” he added.

Chong denied that he faced any political resistance when he made weeding out of illegal immigrants his top priority while serving as the CM there.

“There was great cooperation from the federal government, the authorities, the police,” he said, also attributing cooperation from both the Philippines and Indonesia during his tenure.

Chong said that during his tenure, enforcement officers along with police and the Fifth Brigade of the army had weeded out illegal squatter settlements in notorious areas in Sandakan, Tawau, and Pulau Gaya.

“We also found plenty of ammunition and firearms in these areas,” he added.

While he admitted that “no one can deny” that immigrants were being given ICs, he said he had no knowledge of who was responsible for this matter.

“I have never taken it upon myself to check it out, to trace the culprits, and the syndicates,” he said.

Chong however said that after his tenure as CM, the problem of illegal immigrants being involved in criminal activities and other social ills has been “contained” by the state and federal governments.