KOTA KINABALU:
PKR Sabah is disappointed with the recent announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over the setting up of yet another Federal Cabinet Committee to study the problems of illegal immigrants in Sabah. Its Deputy Chairperson, Christina Hew, said Sabah does not need another round of study into the problems, but speedy action. She said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who will head the Committee, was in fact the chairman of a similar task force and committee in the past and the people here have not seen any result in resolving Sabah’s illegal immigrant and IMM13 problems. “The announcement made by the PM in appointing the DPM to head this high-power committee is like singing the same song but second verse only. There is simply no willpower by the Federal Government to resolve our problems inspite of the overwhelming support by the Sabah people to the Barisan Nasional,” said Christina yesterday. She said PKR Sabah welcomed the belated abolition of the Sabah Federal Development Department or JPPS. “However, we are concerned that the Sabah Development Office is placed directly under the Chief Minister’s Department instead of under the Economic Planning Unit Sabah (EPU), for close monitoring on the implementation of projects that are utilizing both Federal and State funds. It was the role and function of EPU before the set up of the JPPS 17 years ago,” said Liew in a statement. She is hoping that the additional development funds allocated to the elected Assemblymen would be utilized in a transparent and accountable manner for the benefit of the people. “PKR Sabah also calls for more qualified Sabahans to be appointed as Federal department heads. “We hope the Public Service Department will emulate Sarawak by recommending Sabahans to be appointed as State Directors of the Immigration and National Registration Departments, two important departments which tie in with the illegal immigrant issues,” she added.
