By Daniel John Jambun, Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU: Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) takes serious note of the statement reported by Saifuddin Nasution Ismail that citizenship cannot be revoked if it would render a person stateless.
We respond with one clear position:
This is not a legal explanation.
This is a political exposure.
1. DO NOT MISLEAD SABAHANS — THE LAW DOES NOT PROTECT FRAUD
Under the Federal Constitution of Malaysia:
citizenship obtained by fraud can be revoked
the legal mechanism exists
the authority is clear
So let us be precise:
This is not about what the law allows.
This is about what the Government failed to do.
2. THE REALITY: FAILURE FIRST, EXCUSE LATER
The current situation did not happen overnight.
It is the result of:
decades of weak enforcement
failure to act on documented irregularities
refusal to implement findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah
Now, the same system says:
“We cannot act — because of statelessness.”
This is not a limitation.
This is a consequence of negligence.
3. MOMOGUN COMMUNITIES ARE BEING ASKED TO ABSORB THE CONSEQUENCES
Let us speak plainly to the Momogun communities:
You are being told that:
questionable citizenships cannot be revisited
demographic changes cannot be corrected
electoral implications cannot be undone
Why?
Because the system failed earlier.
And now, you are expected to live with the outcome.
4. THIS IS NOT A LEGAL ISSUE — THIS IS A POLITICAL CHOICE
The Government had options:
investigate early
act decisively
implement RCI recommendations fully
Instead, it chose delay.
And delay has now become defence.
5. MOMOGUN POLITICAL LEADERS MUST TAKE A POSITION
This is the moment of truth for all Momogun leaders:
Will you accept this explanation?
Will you remain silent while your communities bear the long-term consequences?
Or will you demand full implementation of the RCI and transparent accountability?
Neutrality is no longer an option.
Silence is no longer defensible.
6. BOPIMAFO’S POSITION
We state firmly:
The Constitution must be upheld
Statelessness must be avoided
But failure must not be normalised
Sabah cannot be governed by:
“Too late to fix”
“Nothing can be done”
“Move on”
7. FINAL MESSAGE TO SABAHANS
This is not about one statement.
This is about a pattern.
Fraud was allowed.
Warnings were ignored.
And now excuses are being institutionalised.
BoPiMaFo rejects this completely.
8. CALL TO ACTION
We call upon:
Momogun civil society
youth movements
community leaders
to demand:
full disclosure of RCI implementation status
independent audit of citizenship irregularities
a clear, time-bound administrative action plan
Sabah is not a dumping ground for administrative failure.
Sabah is a constitutional partner in Malaysia.
And Sabahans will not be told that failure is final.
