RANAU: Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (ANAK NEGERI) today unveiled a critical and comprehensive policy proposal to tackle Sabah’s deeply entrenched issue of illegal immigration.
The party is calling for a fundamental and urgent shift away from the current, ineffective “Arrest, Detain, Deport” (ADD) approach, which it dismisses as mere political showmanship.
ANAK NEGERI President Datuk Henrynus Amin sharply criticised the current methods, describing recent mass arrests of illegal immigrants on the eve of elections as “mere political gimmickry” that is ineffective and lacks real substance or long-term value.
He emphasised that these actions are primarily designed to gain public attention, support, or a temporary electoral advantage rather than genuinely addressing the crisis.
“With an estimated one million foreigners in Sabah, approximately 80% of whom are believed to be illegal immigrants, the idea that Sabah can arrest them all, jail them, and deport them is simply ludicrous,” stated Henrynus.
He highlighted a recent report about severe overcrowding at Sandakan detention centres and the fact that most arrested individuals are actually released shortly after their biometrics are taken, underscoring the unsustainable nature of current tactics.
“We demand to know the actual number of illegal immigrants being arrested and deported and the capacity of detention centres throughout Sabah because clearly, the current system is a total failure.”
Henrynus asserted that the arrest of a few thousand illegal immigrants has no discernible impact on the vast transient population and serves only to “hoodwink the voters into thinking the state and federal government are taking action.”
He warned against obscuring the facts through deceptive actions, emphasising that the “arrest, detain, deport” policy is about political showmanship rather than effective governance.
State Government’s Role and Employer Accountability
ANAK NEGERI also chastised local political entities for solely blaming federal agencies like the police and immigration while neglecting the state government’s own fault or inaction in enforcing crucial state laws to mitigate the problem.
“The state government does little or nothing to enforce existing land laws, local government laws, fisheries, forestry, national marine park regulations, labour laws, and more to track the presence of illegal immigrants,” Henrynus pointed out.
He stressed that the rampant recruitment of illegal immigrants by employers, perhaps to keep wages artificially low, is a major contributing factor to the crisis.
He drew a stark contrast with Sarawak’s economic well-being, largely achieved without reliance on foreign labour, highlighting how Sabah’s overwhelming presence of illegal immigrants creates unfair job competition and strains health and social services, not to mention security and political stability.
ANAK NEGERI’s Proposed Policy Solutions
ANAK NEGERI believes the true solution lies in the proactive cooperation of employers to ensure all their workers are documented with proper passports issued by their home country and the relevant work passes.
Instead of solely focusing on arresting illegal immigrants, ANAK NEGERI proposes that state authorities seek the compliance of all employers to proactively help their workers obtain proper travel documents.
Parti ANAK NEGERI has put forth the following policy solutions for a sustainable and just resolution to the illegal immigration crisis:
Amend and Strengthen State Laws for Enforcement
The state government must amend existing laws related to the issuance of trading licenses, occupation of state land, labour, forestry, marine fisheries, national parks, and the supply of water and electricity. The focus of these amendments should be to strengthen the enforcement of state laws directly related to the presence of illegal immigration.
Establish a One-Stop Centre for Employer Guidance
ANAK NEGERI calls for the establishment of a dedicated one-stop centre or state agency to counsel employers on foreign worker regulations. This agency would provide comprehensive assistance and information on obtaining necessary travel documents and work passes for undocumented workers.
Implement Employer Guidance with a 24-Month Grace Period
This proposed state agency on foreign workers, staffed by dedicated personnel, should guide employers through the process of applying for passports and work passes for their workers. A generous 24-month grace period for compliance should be provided to facilitate this transition.
Leverage Trading Licenses for Employer Compliance
The state government must effectively use trading licenses as a mechanism to ensure employer compliance. Employers should be mandated to declare their workers as legal and documented before their trading licenses are renewed. This will encourage employers to seek assistance from various state agencies regarding foreign labour regulations.
Form a State-Level Inter-Agency Coordination Committee
A state-level Inter-Agency Coordination Committee must be established to ensure all state departments and agencies work collaboratively to implement and enforce state laws effectively. This committee would be specifically tasked with overseeing the enforcement of state laws to comprehensively deal with illegal immigrants.
“Before blaming federal police, immigration, or the federal government, the state government must first demonstrate its unwavering commitment to enforcing local and state laws,” Henrynus concluded.
“Otherwise, Sabah risks being labelled as hypocritical in its approach to this critical issue.”
Henrynus said the party seeks support from all Sabahans on the proposed solutions and affirmed that if Parti ANAK NEGERI candidates were to be elected, they would actively advocate for the Sabah State Government to seriously consider and adopt these proposed policy solutions.
About Parti ANAK NEGERI
Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (ANAK NEGERI) is a local political party dedicated to advocating for the welfare and rights of the native people of Sabah, focusing on critical political, social, and economic issues.
