'Federal gov't not doing enough'

Sabah’s ex-Barisan Nasional component, the Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) is sad and disappointed at the lack of concrete steps taken by the federal government to address the problem of illegal immigrants in the state.

The party’s organising secretary and Silam zone chairperson Kassim Sulaiman in a statement today said Sapp has submitted numerous memorandums and petitions to the federal government on the matter but to no avail.

He called on the government to urgently address the matter, especially in light of the recent episodes in Lahad Datu and Kunak where a police team was mobbed by a group of suspected illegal immigrants at a fish market and two smallholders were hacked to death by illegal immigrants at their plantation.

"Our members of parliament together with other Sabah members of parliament have also repeatedly raised the matter to the attention of the federal government. Unfortunately, not enough has been done by the federal government and the problem of illegals in Sabah still persists", he said.

Sulaiman added that illegal immigrants in the state are becoming increasingly aggressive towards the government and showing disrespect towards the law and order of the state.

"Their presence in Sabah is a threat to our national security and sovereignty. If the security forces cannot overcome this problem, what chance do the ordinary people of Sabah have?" Kassim asked, adding that the large number of illegals is having a negative impact on the economic, social, cultural and political landscape of Sabah.

"If not effectively curbed, Sabah, in the end will loose out to the illegal immigrants,".

Sapp has been very vocal about the problem of illegal immigrants in the state, who are believed to be mainly from southern Philippines and Indonesia, as well as from other countries, like Pakistan.

There is a general air of despondency in Sabah today as the authorities, both state and federal, are seen as not being serious enough in tackling the problem effectively.