KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan slammed a post by a blog insinuating that the federal government is about to grant a special pass for illegal immigrants in Sabah.
In a statement here today, Jeffrey who is also the Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) President said the post in the blog which had been making the rounds on social media is misleading and downright malicious.
The same blog also used a picture of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Jeffrey as its featured image although the picture had nothing to do with the post.
“The prime minister was only referring to the situation in the peninsular and that the temporary pass is nothing like the Sabah temporary card or PSS which Warisan had stubbornly and arrogantly defended earlier this year.
“The proposal was to give stranded illegals who are already in Malaysia to work in oil palm and rubber plantations a temporary pass, allowing them to work for a year or two before they are replaced by legal workers,” he said.
Besides, Jeffrey said Sabah has its own policies on labour and immigration which the federal government cannot, constitutionally, interfere.
He pointed out that in Sabah, the situation is different because as it is, the rate of unemployment is already high and giving special working passes to illegal immigrants is akin to stealing genuine Sabahans of their job opportunities.
“The new Sabah government cannot afford to repeat Warisan’s mistakes. Sabahans have made their voices loud and clear they would not tolerate such nonsense,” he said.
Jeffrey advised the opposition to find a better use of their time and to heed the advice by the King to stop playing politics.
“This is a time of crisis especially in Sabah where the number of Covid-19 infections has not shown any sign of ceasing. Instead of spinning and twisting every word that comes out of the government leaders’ mouths, I think they should instead contribute their ideas if they have any towards combating this pandemic,” he said.-pr/BNN
