Illegal immigrants in Sabah: A numbers game

 

FMT Staff | August 28, 2011

The recent figures seem to show that the population of illegal immigrants in Sabah has not only increased, but no action has been taken to stem the tide.

 

KOTA KINABALU: Ask Sabahans if they believe the census and official figures given by the government on the number of illegal immigrants residing in the state after the recent registration exercise and they will laugh and roll their eyes.

They are not the only ones. Even illegal immigrants in the state will tell you the figures given by the Immigration Department are way off the mark.

Ismail (not his real name), an illegal immigrant who works at a building site here and does odd jobs, is one of them. He has been here for more than a decade along with an uncle and his family.

He has even gone back to the Philippines to see his family several times from Tawau. It’s easy he says.

What he does is get passage on a small boat which will take him out to sea, board the ferry heading for Zamboanga in the southern Philippines at mid sea and just like that, he’s out. It’s the same way back.

He says for every one illegal immigrant who has registered there is at least one unregistered.

The Immigration Department says it has registered close to one million immigrants and 200,000 of them are illegal.

Ismail scoffs at this figure, something agreed by former senator and political activist Dr Chong Eng Leong.

Ismail is one of those who did not bother to register himself along with his family during the recent ballyhooed registration exercise, one in a number held since the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition government came to power in the state in 1994.

Ismail’s uncle who came to Sabah in the mid 70s is already a permanent resident along with his children. One has become a bumiputera through marriage to a native and has gained all the entitlements which come with the status.

Nothing being done

Chong, now a Sabah PKR leader, also pointed out the conflicting figures on the illegal immigrant population in Sabah as provided by the government.

The illegal immigrant activist said the figures bandied about by the government are suspect.

Sabah Immigration Department Director Mohd bin Mentek on Thursday, commenting on 2010 Census, said that there were about 800,000 non-Malaysians living in the state. Of this number, about 200,000 are illegal residents.

Chong however noted that the Yearbook of Statistics Sabah 2010 stated that there were 932,300 non-Malaysians in Sabah and 22,900 in Labuan.

“One would take it that these foreigners were those in possession of valid documents. We were told on July by the state secretary Sukari Wakiman that there were estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants
in the state.

“But now we are told that 200,000 illegals were amongst these foreigners in the 2010 Census,” he said.

He also wants to know why the illegal immigrants were merely counted during the census exercise and registered as illegals and then allowed them to remain in Sabah.

“This non-action by the authorities further confirms our perception that both state and federal governments are not sincere in tackling the problem in Sabah,” he said.

The state government has been accused of never being serious about wanting to resolve the perennial issue affecting Sabah where allegations of vote-fixing using illegal immigrants as a vote
bank have been hurled against it for decades.

Twisting facts

After the latest round of registrations, Chong accused the government of twisting facts.

The latest registration exercise, he said, proved that all the previous announcements of setting up various special committees to tackle the issue have been an eyewash.

The recent figures seem to show that the population of illegal immigrants in Sabah has not only increased, but no action has been taken to stem the tide.

Among the announcements made in the past were, the establishment of a Federal Cabinet Committee on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah in 2000, 2006, 2008 as well as the formation of a Laboratory on Immigrants Management in Sabah in 2010 followed by a Sabah BN Panel on illegal immigrants in 2011.

Chong warned that Malaysia may one day lose Sabah.

“Already the 2010 Census told us that of the total Sabah and Labuan population of 3.309 million there are 2.654 “Malaysians” of which 1.617 million (68%) are genuine Malaysians and 737,000 Project IC citizens (32%).”

He said this was shaping up to be not just a Sabah dilemma but also a Malaysian dilemma.

“The question is, does KL want to protect Sabah’s sovereignty within Malaysia or not?” he asked.

SULTANATE HISTORY 1904: Panglima Hassan

 

BaronessAnne de Bretagne

2:22am Aug 31

SULTANATE HISTORY 1904: Panglima Hassan (Central figure in picture), killed in action against the Americans on March 4, 1904 at Bud Bagsak (“Mount Bagsak”).

Hassan was the district commander of Luuk, Sulu, under the Sulu Sultanate. He was the first Tausug leader to defy the sultan’s order, that, in the interest of peace, the people should acknowledge American sovereignty. As an Imam (roughly translates to “prayer leader”), Panglima Hassan looked at the intrusive American “infidels” as threats to Islam and Moro society . The Tausug Moros had allowed the Spaniards to build a garrison in Siasi and a church in Jolo by virtue of the 1878 peace pact, but that was all. After 300 years of almost continuous warfare, the Spanish had known better than to try and impose their authority over the fiercely independent Sulu people. But the Americans — backed by utterly lethal modern weapons — had no such reservations.

In early November 1903, Hassan and about 3,000 to 4,000 warriors besieged the American garrison in Jolo. Armed only with krises (wavy-edged swords) and some old rifles, they bottled up the Americans for a week before being forced to withdraw. Following a battle, Hassan was captured while bathing near his camp at Lake Seit in late November 1903, but he soon escaped. He resumed the war in February 1904 when, together with Datu (“Chief”) Laksamana and Datu Usap, they attacked the pro-American Sultan Kiram and his forces in the battle of Pampang. He lost in the battle, and was later killed with his two companions along the crater of Bud Bagsak. Hassan had 17 wounds in his body, but died game, crawling with his kris in his mouth toward the nearest wounded American soldier when the last bullet dispatched him.

Sultan Kiram

for more information please take a look this website

Photo shows Sultan Jamal ul-Kiram (seated centre), his staff, US Army officers and some foreign Muslims, circa 1899-1901.HISTORY 1899-1901In reality, Bates never intended to ratify the [Bates] treaty. As Bates would later confess, the agreement was merely a temporary expedient to buy time until the northern forces were defeated.

In addition, Sultan Jamal ul-Kiram and his datus (tribal chiefs) were to receive monthly payments in return for flying the American flag and for allowing the U.S. the right to occupy lands on the islands.

The Sultan did not wish to acknowledge US sovereignty but was prevailed upon to accept it by his prime minister and adviser Hadji Butu Abdul Bagui (LEFT) and two of his top ranking datus, Datu Jolkanairn and Datu Kalbi. Hadji Bagui, recognizing the folly of armed resistance, exerted all his influence to prevent another bloody war. Hadji Bagui and his son, Hadji Gulamu Rasul later favored integration of Moros into the Philippine republic.

The Bates Treaty did not last very long. After the U.S. had completed its goal of suppressing the resistance in northern Philippines, it unilaterally abrogated the Bates Treaty on March 2, 1904, claiming the Sultan had failed to quell Moro resistance and that the treaty was a hindrance to the effective colonial administration of the area.

Payments to the Sultan and his datus were also stopped but were restored by the US Philippine Commission in November 1904.

But in reality, Bates never intended to ratify the treaty. As Bates would later confess, the agreement was merely a temporary expedient to buy time until the northern forces were defeated.

http://www.facebook.com/l/hAQAQuGcQAQDO_szPGFUJJKnKTmQtv3PtcP3uEyiJMz7wgQ/philippineamericanwar.webs.com/stallingmororesistance.htm

The Sub State and the Sultanate

Everyone may agree or reject  the outcome of negotiations (Peace talk)  between the Government and the MILF, particularly  in associated with  the sub-state for Mindanao. but this does not mean that Malaysia even the Government of Philippine can stop the spirit of struggle of the Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah to take over Sabah from Malaysia because of their  historical heritage and the legally rights of the Tausug People.

Filipino Islamic Ummah in the south have the ARMM as  experience ( A lesson learned) which is still up to date , and its was  the result of negotiations among the Muslim fighters and  the past administration. Are there significant benefits perceived by the Islamic Ummah. Every bodies knows the answer of course. If indeed there is a sub- state that may be interpreted as a follow up something that has not been implemented in the ARMM or just buying time to make cooling down of the MILF  fighters. The Philippine leaders  will not remain silent to let the President breaking  the unity of the nation.

But if all that happens, then this will be a positive factor for the Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah for its struggle to take over Sabah and the Sultanate of  Sulu and Sabah full (Genuine) autonomy. so nothing to  lose for the Sultanate and the Tausug People. This is what GOD Almighty mentioned “God none of you made that bring no benefits” ( Robbana Ma kholaqta Haadha batatilan) so lets be positive thinking fighters ( Datuk Sir MYR Agung Sidayu, The Royal Cultural Representative to Indonesia and Timor Leste)

Aquino leaves for China with huge delegation

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan

08/31/2011

President Aquino yesterday left for a five-day State Visit to China, tagging with him the country’s top business leaders and vowing to further improve the trade and diplomatic relatives between the countries.

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said that apart from members of his Cabinet, Aquino will be accompanied by a business delegation of around 200 people,

but the most prominent of them are: John Gokongwei Jr., Founder/Chairman Emeritus, JG Summit Holdings, Inc; Washigton Sycip, Founding Chairman, SGV & Co; Jose Pardo, Chairman, PCCI Council of Business Leaders; Tony Tan Caktiong,Chairman & CEO, Jollibee Foods Corporation; Antonio Cojuangco, Chairman, Nabasan Subic Development Corp; George Ty, Group Chairman, Metrobank; Teresita Sy Coson, Co-Chairperson, SM Investments Corporation; Carlos Chan, Chairman, Liwayway Holdings; Ramos Ang, President & CEO, San Miguel Corporation; Manuel V Pangilinan,Chairman, PLDT Co., Lucio Tan, Founder/Group Chairman, Lucio C. Tan Group of Companies; Andrew Tan,Chairman, Allied Group Inc. (Megaworld); Erramon Aboitiz,President & CEO, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Alfredo Yao, Chairman, Zesto Corporation; Tan Ching, of Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. and Francis Chua, President, PCCU – PCBC.

Valte claimed that Aquino his entourage will be spending only P25 Million for five days as Aquino expressed hopes that he would be able to bring home at least USD 2 billion in investments.

Talk is that the businessmen flying with Aquino paid P85,000 each for the plane fare, while those in the second airplane were charged P45,000 each.

The President will start his activity today by meeting separately with Chinese businessmen at the China World Hotel.

He will also have a brief meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

This will be followed by his attendance at the Philippines-China Economic and Trade Forum where he will deliver his keynote speech.

At the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, the President will be interviewed by Yang Rui and Yang Lan of CCTV Dialog.

The President will be officially welcomed at the Great Hall of the People by Chinese President Hu Jintao, in fitting ceremonies accorded a visiting head of state.

Immediately after his first summit meeting with the Chinese leader, the two heads of state will hold a bilateral meeting.

President Aquino and President Hu Jintao are also expected to witness the signing of agreements in the fields of trade, economic and technical cooperation, media, sports, culture and information among others that will further boost the relationship between the two countries.

In the evening, the President will attend a State Banquet at the Great Hall of the People which will be hosted in his honor by the Chinese President.

He will also meet with the Filipino community of Beijing to personally check on their condition and to inform them of the positive developments of the Philippines under his administration.

There are some 2,492 Filipinos in Beijing and its neighboring cities and provinces who are working as doctors, engineers, teachers, and hotel and restaurant managers, including musicians among others.

Prior to the Coffee with the Philippine media, the President will drop by at a dinner hosted by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for the 270 business delegation.

Aquino will also take time out from his busy schedules here to visit Beijing’s two most visited historical sites — the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.

The Chinese government has recommended that President Aquino will visit the Badaling section of the Great Wall, which is approximately 80 kilometers northwest from the center of Beijing.

Before leaving for Shanghai, the President will meet with Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Premier Wen Jiabao.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China on June 9, 1975, the bilateral partnership between the two countries has reached unprecedented levels in terms of political/security and regional cooperation, trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, which have benefited the two countries and peoples.

The Philippines-China economic and trade cooperation continues to serve as the engine that drives Philippine-China relations to greater heights. China is the Philippines’ third largest trading partner and the fastest growing source of tourists.

AFP ready to thwart Umbra Kato’s bid to disrupt peace talks

By Mario J. Mallari

08/31/2011

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) claims it is ready to thwart any possible attempt to disrupt peace by the group of renegade Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander Ameril Umbra Kato, who vowed to destroy peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.

But even as the military command speaks of fending off Umbra Kato’s forces in disrupting the peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the armed rebel group’s central committee has started to discuss the Philippine government’s proposal for an expanded autonomy, so said Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for political affairs, but added that the MILF leaders already had “light discussions” on the same government proposal in their headquarters in Maguindanao.

Reports said that the members of the central committee are to meet again, although earlier, a high ranking MILF leader already rejected the government’s proposal for autonomy, saying this was no different from the autonomy that was given the Moro National Liberation Front, saying that the constitutional amendments promised the MNLF were never delivered as promised.

He added that if the MILF accepts the autonomy proposal, the MILF would end up no differently from the MILF.

AFP-Public Affairs Office chief Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the military will continue to perform its mandate of protecting the people.

However, Burgos stressed that the AFP is fully supportive of the government’s peace efforts in resolving conflicts.

“The AFP will always support the government’s peace negotiation efforts and other peace initiatives in resolving conflict situations.

We will continue to pursue non-violent means as a primary effort

of attaining peace and stability,” said Burgos.

“Resorting to armed confrontation would always be the last recourse.

According to Burgos, military field commanders are given the authority to pursue their respective operation plans they see fit to the situation in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

“Our units in the field will continue to carry out security operations in their respective areas of jurisdiction. Our field commanders have their own operation plans and guidelines which they would follow to accomplish their tasks and mission in their respective localities,” said Burgos.

On Monday, Umbra Kato appeared before the media in Camp Omar with a small band of his fighters under the newly-formed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) and vowed to destroy the peace efforts of the government and the MILF.

Kato branded the peace negotiations as waste of time, money and effort.

Last December, Kato announced his separation from the MILF after differences with the leadership in handling the peace negotiations as he is pushing for an independent Moro state in Mindanao while the MILF leadership has settled for a Bangsamoro sub-state under the national government.

Early this month, Kato announced his formation of the BIFM, boasting 5,000 membership. However, during Sunday show of force in Camp Omar, Kato was only surrounded by roughly 200 supporters.

Meanwhile, MILF vice chairman Jaafar said the MILF Central Committee already discussed the government’s proposed agreement during Monday’s meeting in Camp Darapanan.

“We were briefed by the MILF peace panel, the GPH (government of the Philippine) proposal was submitted in writing and we just received it.

We had light discussion but the government cannot expect the central committee to decide on the issue, on the proposal in just one meeting so this will be followed by several meetings,’ said Jaafar.

But it appears that the MILF is taking a hard line, with an MILF panel member saying: “Why do we have to negotiate for something doable; the Aquino administration can just implement them.”

Mantawil described the GPH’s proposal as something that starts from scratch, while the MILF’s is a product of more than 10years of give-and-take negotiations.

As things stand, the desired MILF substate is an iimpossibility, as the Constitution does not allow this.

Sultan Sulu’ umum keluar parti UMNO

(Datu Moch Akjan adalah salah satu Sultan plasu yang di angkat oleh datuk Albi)

Oleh Hassan Omar

 

2011/02/23

 

KOTA KINABALU: Lelaki yang dilaporkan ditabal sebagai Sultan Sulu dalam satu majlis di sebuah rumah di Likas dekat sini, awal bulan ini, semalam mengumumkan keluar daripada UMNO berkuat kuasa serta-merta.

 

Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad, 54, keluar daripada cawangan UMNO di bahagian Kota Kinabalu yang sebelum ini dikenali sebagai UMNO Bahagian Gaya berikutan dakwaan ada pihak tertentu cuba ‘membunuh karektor’ beliau.

 

“Salinan surat keluar parti sudah saya hantar kepada Ibu Pejabat UMNO di Kuala Lumpur dan Perhubungan UMNO Sabah hari ini (semalam),” katanya dalam kenyataannya di sini, semalam.

 

hamis lalu, mesyuarat Perhubungan UMNO Sabah yang dipengerusikan Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, sebulat suara memutuskan untuk mencadangkan kepada MT supaya memecat beliau kerana ditabal sebagai Sultan Sulu sedangkan kerajaan negeri tidak mengiktiraf pertabalan itu, apatah lagi Kesultanan Sulu.

 

Tindakan Datu Mohd Akjan disifatkan UMNO Sabah bertujuan memecahbelahkan perpaduan UMNO, sekali gus menggugat ketenteraman awam di negeri ini.

 

Sehubungan itu, beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan individu membuat laporan polis.

 

Datu Mohd Akjan mendakwa majlis di rumahnya pada 2 Februari lalu bukan majlis pertabalan, sebaliknya adalah kenduri kesyukuran selepas beliau bersetuju menerima tawaran ‘kerajaan sementara Sulu’ untuk dipilih sebagai Sultan Sulu Ke-33.

“Bagaimanapun, ada pihak tertentu yang ada kepentingan politik silap interpretasi majlis itu sebagai pertabalan. Saya ditawarkan kerana kajian pegawai kanan kerajaan sementara Sulu mendapati saya adalah waris Sultan Sulu terakhir, Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Marhum Shariful Hashim 1.

 

“Saya menerima tawaran itu kerana kerajaan sementara Sulu bersetuju dengan permintaan saya supaya mereka menghentikan tuntutan ke atas Sabah.

 

“Persetujuan itu disusuli majlis menandatangani perjanjian pada majlis kenduri kesyukuran itu dengan disaksikan lebih 60 orang, termasuk Perdana Menteri kerajaan sementara Sulu, Datu Albi Ahmad Julkarnain dan wakil Majlis Diraja Datu, Rumah Diraja Maimbung dan Patikul,” katanya.

 

Datu Mohd Akjan pernah ditahan mengikut Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) pada 1995 kerana disyaki terbabit dalam kegiatan menjual kad pengenalan kepada pendatang tanpa izin Filipina

ERAP: SUB-STATE IS A MISTAKE

 

Former President Joseph Estrada today said that entertaining the idea of a Bangsamoro sub-state, if not handled with caution, may borderline on treason. “Peace must be attained but not at the cost of our territorial integrity,” Estrada said.

 

Estrada clarified that he never gave the Aquino Administration advise. He stressed that he is not in the habit of giving unsolicited advice but was only answering questions from the media regarding his stand on this issue as a former president who achieved peace in Mindanao by wiping out the MILF. 

Reports describe the substate as one that will exercise powers over its political and economic affairs and enforce security within the Bangsamoro territory. While it will remain under the Republic of the Philippines, it would have “asymmetrical relations’’ with the national government, similar to Hong Kong’s relations with China and have the unique position of having its own “responsibility in governing Bangsamoro lands”. 

“We must exert all efforts towards peace but we cannot afford to give them something that is tantamount to giving them their own government and against the Constitution,” Estrada said. “Whether you call it a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity or a Bangsamoro substate, by whatever name you call it, the MILF are essentially asking for the creation of their own government, which is a non-negotiable. The territorial integrity of our country is a non-negotiable.” 

(End) 

OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON

for Former President Joseph E. Estrada

CANCELLATION OF THE AWARD

20 August 2011

 

Royal Maimbung, Sulu

 

A Royal communiqué from His Royal Highness Prince Omar Kiram Dux de Legazpi Duque de Vivar-Maniquiz, Grand Prince & Prince Marshal & Grand Master of the Royal Orders.

To All and Singular: To all whom this Royal communiqué shall come, greetings!

Be it hereby duly known with the most gracious Royal assent and approbation, and after due deliberation by the Royal Council which unanimously agreed and recommended to His Majesty Sultan Muhammad Fuad Abdulla Kiram the First, The Sultan of Sulu & The Sultan of Sabah, Head of Islam & Head of Sultanate, The 35th Reigning Sultan – for the outright termination and cancellation of any Award or Recognition to Mr. Nick Heydarian Afshari as grantee and awardee of The Royal Hashemite Sultanate of Sulu & Sabah, is cancelled and terminated with immediate effect.

Abatement reads:

Upon thorough study and examination we found out that Mr. Nick Heydarian Afshari being unable to be appointed as our USA Royal Ambassador, is now with the group of the fake sultan Aranan, thus Mr. Afshari does not qualify to hold any award or recognition from His Majesty Sultan Muhammad Fuad Abdulla Kiram the First and any award of Mr. Afsahri is hereby terminated and cancelled today the 20th day of August 2011.

His Majesty Sultan Muhammad Fuad Abdulla Kiram the First thereafter ordered and issued a Royal Edict to be signed and sealed today at Royal Maimbung, Sulu this 20th day of August in the year 2011.

This Royal Edict of Abatement and Termination of Award appears as a matter of public records and to be made known publicly and accordingly.

We are:

HRH Prince Omar Kiram Dux de Legazpi Duque de Vivar-Maniquiz

Grand Prince & Prince Marshal & Grand Master of Royal Orders

The Royal Hashemite Sultanate of Sulu & Sabah

AKJAN IS NOT A SULTAN

KOTA KINABALU: Is Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein oblivious to fact that the police have already concluded a ‘thorough’ investigation into self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Mohd Akjan Ali Mohamad and are awaiting the Attorney-General’s directive on the matter?

This is the question posed by an ex-senator who warned that Sabah is well on its way to being fully colonised by Peninsular Malaysia.

Dr Chong Eng Leong said the only way for the state to keep intact its sovereignty within Malaysia is to vote for change in the next general election.

Chong said he came to this conclusion after Hishammuddin ordered the police to “thoroughly and seriously” investigate the citizenship of Akjan, a former Umno member who created waves in Sabah with his self-proclaimation.

The former PBS leader, who is now a Sabah PKR leader, said Hishammuddin’s statement could only mean that the recently concluded police investigation on Akjan was ‘neither thorough nor serious.’
“Surely our Home Minister has not forgotten that the police had completed the probe and had submitted the investigation papers to the A-G chamber for a decision.”

Chong also reminded Hishammuddin that Akjan was an ex-ISA detainee who was held for activities related to issuance of ‘ICs’ to foreigners in Sabah and that the police must already have all the facts concerning him.

He however expressed doubt the police would “thoroughly investigate” Akjan’s case given the fact that the federal government refusal, until today, to admit to the existence of the infamous ‘Project IC’.

The so-called ‘project’ is widely believed to have been engineered by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad back in the 90s, with the chief aim of altering the demography of Sabah to oust the Christian-dominated PBS state government at that time.

Criminal act

Lurid tales of thousands of homeless and stateless children in Sabah, many of them drug addicts, have been published by the international press without much comment from the federal authorities.

Most believe that acknowledging that there are such destitute children living of the streets in Kota Kinabalu would force the government to admit that a criminal act had been committed.

“Already there are more than 600,000 foreigners in Sabah having possession of such ICs today and they claim Sabah native status,” said Chong.

“How many times does the federal government need to be told that Sabah’s security and sovereignty within Malaysia is at stake, a time-bomb ready to explode any moment?”
Chong pointed out that there was strong circumstantial evidence that Akjan’s claim that he is a bona fide Malaysian is false.

He noted that online news portal Sabahkini had reported in February that Akjan was born in Jambangan, Nipah-Nipah, in Philippines, on Nov 23, 1957 and a few individuals have also testified against his citizenship claim.

However Akjan’s Malaysian IC states that he was born on July 7, 1957 and he claimed that he was born in Kg Limau-Limauan, Kudat.