He said Upko was in BN when Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister during the so-called Projek IC.
“So why didn’t Upko raise its queries and concerns at that time?
“The problem of illegal immigrants persists until today, as we all know full well, even after Mahathir stepped down as prime minister many years ago.”
Wong said this when hitting out at Upko acting president Wilfred Madius Tangau for claiming that the problems brought by Projek IC will worsen if Pakatan Harapan wins the next general election and Mahathir becomes prime minister.
Projek IC is the moniker given to an alleged citizenship-for-votes scheme of the previous administration led by Mahathir.
Tangau, who is also federal science, technology and innovation minister, had said yesterday that if Pakatan Harapan forms the next government, illegal immigrants will “be coming in droves”.
Wong said Mahathir is now with Pakatan Harapan and has apologised for any problems created when he was prime minister.
“Pakatan Harapan and Mahathir have also pledged that if we come into power, whatever problems related to the presence of illegal immigrants will be fixed as they form an important part of our agenda.”
Tangau made the remarks when speaking at an election machinery convention held jointly by Upko, PBRS and PBS here. Tangau urged the people to refrain from voting for the opposition partly because of Mahathir’s alleged involvement in Projek IC.
“Our three leaders present here, Joseph Kurup, Max Ongkili and Joseph Pairin Kitingan, are all capable of resolving the (illegal immigrants) problems,” Tangau said.
Wong, who is Sabah DAP chairman, questioned Tangau’s confidence in the ability of the Kadazandusun Murut party leaders to resolve the long-standing issue.
“If these leaders are good enough to tackle the scourge of illegal immigrants, then what further actions have they taken after the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) completed its investigation into the matter and issued its report?
“Two committees — the main committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman and the technical committee chaired by Pairin — haven’t taken any action three years after the RCI made its recommendations.
“During the 13th general election, BN promised to settle the issue but what have they done to solve the problems?
“They are the ones in the government and they have the power to solve this problem once and for all but they’re not doing anything about it.”
The RCI concluded in 2014 that Projek IC, a thorny issue among many Sabahans, may have existed.
Chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa, however, said this finding was based on the testimonies of five witnesses, who were not subjected to cross-examination.
He said the finding showed no politicians or the government were involved in the project.
Mahathir as PM again will only worsen Projek IC woes, says Tangau
RCI report on Projek IC: Petition calls for debate in Parliament
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/12/04/rci-finds-truth-in-projek-ic-allegations/