Several RCI recommendations on illegal immigrants implemented: Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: Several recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the illegal immigrants in Sabah have been implemented in accordance with the stipulated procedures, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that following the findings of the RCI in December 2014, the government had set up the Committee on the Management of Foreigners in Sabah that was divided into two – the main committee and the technical committee.
The main committee is chaired by Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, along with Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman while the technical committee is chaired by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
"Following the establishment of the committee, the government intensified enforcement and deported illegal immigrants from Sabah. The seriousness of the committee in solving the issue of illegal immigrants can be seen in the deportation of the highest number of 27,769 illegal immigrants in 2015.
"The committee also collaborated with the Philippine government to expedite the issuance of travel documents to enable the detained illegal immigrants to be deported to their home country," he said when winding up debate at the policy stage for the Home Ministry on the Supply Bill 2018 in the Dewan Rakyat.
Ahmad Zahid said the committee acted in a transparent manner in implementing its role and was prepared to receive all feedback from the various quarters to solve the issue of illegal immigrants in the state.
He said that in such circumstances, it was unfair for any party to accuse National Registration Department officers of having sold identification documents to foreigners.
"We know that when the ISA (Internal Security Act) was in force, many syndicate leaders and members were detained under the ISA for allegedly having sold identification documents.
"However, now, when the ISA is no more, the existing legislation was used as a preventive measure and there is no new record of the alleged sale of the documents by the officers. Going by police reports, fake cards were sold by those who took advantage of the situation, and action has been taken in the case," he said.
Ahmad Zahid also said that all quarters should give the Attorney-General's Chambers a chance to investigate the case of the video associated with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad.
He called on all quarters to cease any act of character assassination with regard to Dzulkifli and give him the chance to carry out his duties. — Bernama