TUARAN: Vice President of the Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) Gundohing Henry Saimpon has urged the government to take immediate action to suspend the’recognition’ of Statutory Declarations (SDs) meant for identification documentation processes.
He said that this decisive action is necessary in light of recent reports indicating a significant increase in identity document applications associated with foreigners utilising SDs.
A Statutory Declaration is a procedure used to make a declaration with the belief that any information contained in the Declaration/Oath is true and in accordance with the Statutory Declarations Act 1960.
Henry said Kiulu KDM views the matter seriously, especially since Sabah has long been grappling with the issue of foreign influx and the IC project.
“Therefore, the government needs to take immediate action to rectify the situation, including temporarily halting the recognition of the statutory declarations in question to allow for a thorough investigation.
“If this practice is not curbed immediately, we are concerned that it will affect the interests of the local people in the future,” he said in a statement today.
According to him, for locals, they usually do not face problems registering children or adults living in remote areas to obtain identification documents at the National Registration Department.
“What is concerning is the attempt by foreigners to misuse the Statutory Declaration document where they claim to be locals to facilitate the process of obtaining identity documents,” he said.
Henry said Kiulu KDM also wants the authorities to investigate whether there are holders of digital documents provided by the government involved in misusing SDs to obtain identity documents.
Recently, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan advised commissioners of oaths and other authorities to be cautious of verifying statutory declarations (SDs), citing alleged abuse of the documents by foreigners.
Kitingan provided three copies of such alleged SDs, indicating that the applicants wished for the declaration to be a supporting document to their identification documentation process.
