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RCI report on Sabah’s illegal immigrants handed to Prime Minister, Agong BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

RCI report on Sabah’s illegal immigrants handed to Prime Minister, Agong

Posted: 19 May 2014 11:58 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah has submitted the outcome of its investigation to Yang DiPertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

RCI chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong, who is also former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, told reporters that it was up to the government to decide on the report which was completed early this year.

He declined to elaborate further.

"All I can say is, the public will know when the report is released," he said after leading the RCI panel on a courtesy call to Yang DiPertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at Istana Negeri here yesterday.

The Commission set up on Sept 21, 2012, called 211 witnesses including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim before closing the case on Sept 20 last year. — Bernama

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Three factories razed near petrol station

Posted: 19 May 2014 10:50 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: Fire gutted two furniture factories and an iron factory behind a Shell petrol station in Donggongon on Sunday night.

The fire, which broke out at 9.30pm, had threatened to spread to the petrol station located around 50 feet away.

Fortunately, a staff at the petrol station immediately initiated its emergency mechanism and called the Fire and Rescue Department.

Upon arrival, fire personnel set out to put out flames that were threatening to spread to the surrounding buildings and petrol station before turning their attention to the furniture factories and iron factory that were engulfed in flames.

An explosion was also heard at the scene, believed to be caused by a gas stove that exploded in one of the factories.

According to the daughter of the furniture factory's owner, who wished to be known as Ah May only, the fire broke out about 9.30pm.

She said the fire was worse than she had imagined, as many of the equipment in the factory were destroyed in the fire, and she estimated the loss at around RM100,000.

The cause of fire and losses are still under investigation.

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510 illegals arrested in Keningau, Tenom

Posted: 19 May 2014 10:49 AM PDT

KENINGAU: The Federal Special Task Force (FSTF) arrested 510 illegal immigrants during Ops Tanduk here and in Tenom on May 17 and 18.

"Of the number, 342 people were detained for further action after the screening at the documentation centre at Bingkor Community Hall," Sabah and Labuan FSTF director Dato Haji Mohd Suhaimi Salleh disclosed here on Sunday.

He said the operation ended on Sunday night and all the illegal immigrants arrested had been sent to detention centres before being sent back to their home country.

"So far, 5,250 illegal immigrants from the state had been evicted as of May, where 4,444 were Filipinos, 795 Indonesians and 98 were from China, Pakistan and other countries," he said.

Suhaimi said Ops Tanduk involved a total of 81 personnel from FSTF, the Immigration Department, the National Registration Department and the Royal Malaysian Police from this district and Tenom.

He said all the illegal immigrants held during this operation throughout the state, had been sent to detention centres in Papar, totalling 2,115, Tawau (1,550) and a total of 1,183 illegal immigrants had been sent to Sibuga, Sandakan.

"As usual, when the three centres face congestion, we would put the detainees in temporary detention centres. At this point all three centres are crowded," he added.

Suhaimi said to address this problem, the illegal immigrants were sent back twice a week to Zamboanga in The Philippines and Nunukan in Indonesia.

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ESSCom on definition of illegal immigrant sympathisers

Posted: 19 May 2014 09:35 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) director general Datuk Mohammad Mentek yesterday gave a definition of illegal immigrant sympathisers yesterday.

He described such individuals as those who were involved in cross-border crimes and those who harboured the criminals and illegal immigrants.

The director was asked during a briefing held with the Kadazandusun Murut community at Wisma Dang Bandang if the term illegal immigrant sympathisers also referred to those who provided education to stateless children.

To this, Mohammad described such effort as a good thing.

"I feel it is a good thing if an NGO takes the initiative to give them education until there is a definition on their status," he said.

Mohammad also commented on his post as a director general of ESSCom and how it was important for him to try his best to fulfil his responsibilities.

He noted that it was impossible to make everyone happy and that people can say what they want.

"When we do something, we can't make everyone happy … to me I just try my best," he said.

"I create the policy framework. The directive is given by the division command, so there are no problems," he said.

Mohammad also commented on the topic related to the local government and said that ESSCom needs their cooperation in demolishing the squatters that have been identified as the hideout of illegal immigrants within Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

"There have been many proposals to get the houses demolished but we need the local government," he said.

On another topic, Mohammad mentioned that the area monitored by ESSZone includes 361 islands, 83 of which are located in Semporna.

He said that the challenge faced by ESSCom and the security forces was the limited view they have when conducting surveillance at sea.

"Our view is limited to 20 kilometers at sea because the earth is round … the border is also located near Sitangkai (in the Philippines) which is 45 minutes away from Tanduo. Pulau Pom-Pom is merely 15 minutes away from the border, and the distance between Singgahmata to the border is an hour and 15 minutes. That is why it is so easy for them (cross-border criminals) to get away to the border," he said.

He recounted that such cross-border crimes were nothing new and in the 1970s when he was younger, there were already a lot of pirates operating near Semporna.

"We call them 'Mundu'. When we hear the warning of incoming 'Mundu' everyone runs to the land. 'Mundu' then were more vicious than now. They kill and rob. In the 1950s, they came in broad daylight (to attack) and in 1986, the 'Mundu' went to rob in Lahad Datu also in daylight…however with the presence of the security forces, we have managed to reduce such incidences," he said.

Unfortunately, there have been more kidnapping for ransom cases, he said.

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Sabah taking steps to face El Nino – Yahya

Posted: 19 May 2014 09:34 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The state government has taken steps to prepare for El Nino which is predicted to last for six months from June to September.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin said this would include ensuring that there is sufficient water supply for consumers and the agricultural community in the state.

Yahya, who is also Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, when met after visiting the site for the proposed SK Petagas and SMK Petagas in his constituency yesterday, said this when asked what steps the government would be taking in preparation for El Nino which the Meteorological Department had predicted could be happening from the middle of this year.

"We do not know which areas in Sabah will be affected but we have taken preventive measures like ensuring there will be sufficient water supply for farmers. We are also creating awareness among the farming community not to waste water," he said.

Yahya who is also Petagas assemblyman, also advised the public to do their part in conserving water by using it sparingly and also to report any incidence of pipe leaks to reduce the wastage.

"Water shortage will affect all of us so we want to prevent this," he said.

The government has set up a special cabinet committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to face the weather phenomenon from June to September.

The World Meteorological Organisation has also predicted that El Nino could persist from six to 18 months, and if this were to happen it would worsen the water supply situation in the country.

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640 wooden school buildings need upgrading

Posted: 19 May 2014 09:33 AM PDT

by Nancy Lai. Posted on May 20, 2014, Tuesday

KOTA KINABALU: State Education Director Datuk Jame Alip hoped that the Education Ministry will expedite the approval for the department to appoint consultants to evaluate the safety of old school buildings in Sabah.

He said that the department had identified 640 wooden school buildings in Sabah, some of which were built in the 1960s, that needed to be upgraded to concrete structure.

"As a long-term remedial measure, the State Education Department has applied for a RM500 million allocation to replace the 640 wooden school buildings but this will take some time to be implemented.

"So as the short-term plan, the State Education Department has set up a committee to check these schools for safety risks and although the Public Works Department (PWD) is doing a good job helping us out, they are shorthanded and cannot be there all the time.

"So I see the need for the State Education Department to apply from the Education Ministry's development unit to allow us to appoint a consultant for each of the schools and these consultants will evaluate the safety of the 640 school buildings," said Jame after the presentation of the 'Tutor 2014' educational publication by Deputy Chief Minister cum Petagas assemblyman Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin to six schools in his constituency yesterday.

According to Jame, there are many consultants available in Sabah who can be appointed to do the evaluation of the 640 schools.

"If the proposal is approved, we can expedite our delivery system towards resolving the issues," he said.

Jame is also hopeful that the allocation which the State Education Department has applied for will be approved soon so that the upgrading work on the schools can start.

"We have applied for RM500 million from the Education Ministry and we are waiting. Ideally, the sooner the allocation is approved the better because it is an urgent need after seeing five wooden schools burning down since March," he said.

He reiterated that there were no criminal elements or sabotage involved in the fires which destroyed SM Pekan Kiulu Tuaran, SK Gadong Beaufort, SK Simpangan Kota Marudu, SK Tampasak Papar and SK Peninbawan, Tuaran.

The director also brushed aside allegations that the Education Ministry is not concerned about Sabah and pointed out that the Federal Government is very concerned and had in fact allocated billions to the state for education infrastructure and facilities.

"Maybe there are technical problems with regards to the approval of allocation but that is all, so give us time to resolve the problems in the state," he said.

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