“The idea of re-issuing Native Certificates is not practical, it’s too extreme, would harm Natives and cause a lot of disputes,” warned DAP Sabah Chairman and Sandakan MP Stephen Wong. “Native Certificates only have a function when used to buy Native land or apply for certain benefits.”
“The relevant authorities can confiscate the forged Native Certificates when the holders apply for anything that they are not entitled to obtain.”
Both political parties were commenting on outgoing MACC Sabah Director Hishamuddin Hashim calling on Tuesday for Native Certificates in Sabah to be re-issued with high security features.
PBS Information Chief Jahid Jahim agreed that while resolving the fake Native Certificate phenomenon was important, there were more pressing problems like the large number of MyKads held by illegal immigrants (PTI) in Sabah and who have also found their way into the electoral rolls. “The National Registration Department (NRD) had in the past pledged that they can weed out the MyKads held by the PTI if they are instructed by the government.”
“If there’s political will, there’s a way out on the problem ICs. The issuance of Native Certificates was already frozen in the 1980s.”
Jahim stressed that not only were there severe social problems in Sabah caused by the presence of large numbers of PTI, the people had to put up with reports from time to time in the media that “Sabahans” were engaged in committing crimes in the peninsula. “This is really shameful to us when it turns out that these so-called Sabahans were not from Sabah at all but held ICs issued in the state.”
Wong, taking up the cudgels again, cautioned that it would take a very long time to recall all Native Certificates and identify genuine Natives. “It’s indeed very unfair to genuine Natives. Even now many Natives have their applications rejected when they apply for something.”
“However, we welcome the MACC move to investigate those who bought Native land with falsified Native Certificates. This should include the big corporate figures that made use of probably False Native Certificates to get hold of Native land. The government has not done anything about this phenomenon.”
Wong, like Jahid, said that he would rather the authorities concerned focus their attention on MyKads held by the PTI in Sabah. “This is an open secret.”
“The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah issued its Report on the ICs held by PTI more than a year ago. The government has yet to fulfill its promise that the problem would be resolved once and for all.”
The MP, continuing, said that the people of Sabah would be happier if the problem of the PTI holding MyKads was resolved instead of harping on Native Certificates.