KOTA KINABALU: Parti ANAK NEGERI has criticised both PBS and STAR for their conspicuous silence and inaction on the critical issue of illegal immigration and the shifting political demography of this state.
Its president, Datuk Henrynus Amin, said PBS has relied on past achievements, such as writing memorandums, but has done absolutely nothing concrete to address the problem.
“Even the idea of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants and fake ICs was conceived and implemented by Datuk Henrynus Amin during his time as Secretary General of PBS.
“Yet, after the RCI’s findings were released, PBS remained pathetically quiet, choosing to remain silent on the issue. This inaction directly led to Datuk Henrynus Amin’s departure from the party,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the recent Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (ANAK NEGERI) Annual Delegates General Meeting at Inanam Capital near here.
Similarly, Henrynus said STAR and Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan are guilty of a blatant double standard.
“STAR spearheaded the campaign to stop the implementation of the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) by the then-Warisan Government.
“Yet, once in power, STAR now champions the registration and issuance of “Kad Warga Asing” (Foreigners Identity Cards) to enable foreigners to reside and work in Sabah without valid travel documents from their countries of origin.
“The PSS and Kad Warga Asing were both conceived and advocated by the Ministry of Home Affairs. In 2022, STAR, then a component of Perikatan Nasional, shamefully swallowed their own words by consenting to the registration and issuance of these foreigners’ identity cards.
“Unbeknownst to the people of Sabah, the ‘Kad Warga Asing,’ which is renewable, can be used as a basis to apply for permanent residency or even citizenship, as continuous stay in Malaysia for 10 years is a key criterion.
“This dangerous loophole allows illegal immigrants to bypass existing immigration laws,” he added.
He said no political party in Sabah genuinely speaks of the looming threat of the political demographic shift.
“While Parti ANAK NEGERI has consistently voiced concerns about ‘Sabah IC,’ PBS and STAR have been conspicuously silent in recent years.
“PBS has had 40 years, and STAR 30 years, to act. Yet, they did nothing.
“They are a failed formula that no longer deserves the support of the people of Sabah. They have become a liability, not an asset, and they are now asking for five more years of failure and misery for the people of Sabah.
Henrynus said their loyalty lies with GRS, a coalition that shows no interest in addressing the shifting political demography of the state.
He said the presence of one million foreign nationals from neighbouring countries has drastically altered Sabah’s political demography
“This is a severe and undeniable threat. If left unaddressed, within the next decade, the foreign population—which now accounts for almost 30% of Sabah’s total inhabitants—could tragically exceed 50%.
“Recent statistics paint a chilling picture: the foreign population was 800,000 in 2020. Within a short span of four years, by 2024, this number has exploded to more than one million—an increase of almost 250,000 people. This rapid escalation is not accidental; it’s a calculated and deliberate movement that began in the 1970s,” he added.
