KENINGAU: It is time for the people of Sabah to unite and take an ‘out-of-the-box approach’ and demand that the power over MyKad registration be delegated to the Sabah government in line with the spirit of MA63, said former Sook Community Development Leader (PPM) Gundohing Edward Kandok.
He said this is because various strategies, including the establishment of the RCI for the IC project previously, have still failed to address the issue of MyKad issuance to foreigners, especially those using the supporting document of a Statutory Declaration.
According to Edward, the delegation of power to the Sabah government is believed to help minimise the possibility of foreigners obtaining MyKad documents through dubious means.
“I believe the people of Sabah, especially the officers responsible for managing the issuance and registration of MyKad later, are more familiar with the locals and can distinguish between them and foreign nationals.”
“For example, there is a person who looks like a Pakistani who is said to have obtained an identity document and claimed to have been born in Nabawan. Such incidents might not occur if the people of Sabah were given the authority to handle the registration of identity documents,” he said when contacted today.
Edward commented on the idea put forward by former Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Dr Salleh Said Keruak, regarding that matter.
Previously, Salleh had suggested that all native Sabahans re-register their MyKad to address various documentation issues, including the “bird” documents.
He said it would be better if the entire registration process were handled by the Sabah government.
In Sabah, there are various types of documents, including bird documentation. Therefore, I believe it is important to reassess the entire registration process.
“Proposals after proposals have been submitted to Kuala Lumpur, and a committee has also been established to address this issue.”
“In the end, there are still parties questioning the validity of the data.” So why isn’t it being managed by our state government? said Salleh.
Edward believes that any MyKad identification documents that were ‘overlooked’ and given to foreigners should be revoked immediately.
He said that the drastic step is important considering Sabah has long been struggling with the issue of the influx of illegal immigrants and hopes that this new approach will yield results.
