The state opposition party made this call on account of the federal government seemingly posting police officers from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah, the Daily Express reported.
“Sabahans know who are the illegal immigrants. We know our own backyard. Besides law enforcement, immigration and the national registration department (NRD) should also be under the state government.
“It’s about the state’s security. Especially with false documents being an issue following the influx of so many illegal immigrants,” Sabah DAP adviser Jimmy Wong said in a statement released today.
Wong said the police as a state force is one of the core demands on the rights of Sabah and Sabahans.
Wong, who is also Kota Kinabalu MP, also recalled the promise of Borneonisation embedded in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Borneonisation remains unfulfilled. It’s time for the state government to demand that Borneonisation be carried out.
“The Malaysia Agreement 1963 had promised that all the key posts in the police force would eventually be held by Sabahans. We want the promise to be fulfilled,” Wong said.
He blamed Putrajaya for continuing to neglect this promise by posting senior police officers from the peninsula to Sabah.
“Sabahans have held senior posts but only briefly. How many of the state commissioners of police were Sabahans?
“Ideally, the state government should assume the power to appoint police personnel, not the federal government,” Wong said, adding that the state government should be deciding on the appointment of the state commissioner of police, the officers, and the rank and file in the force.