In a statement today, Jeffrey said the battle-cry of “Sabah for Sabahans” used by Shafie’s Parti Warisan Sabah during the recent election campaign was meaningless rhetoric.
He was responding to Shafie’s proposal to issue passes to illegal workers, criticising the chief minister for even suggesting to allow them to bring their families into Sabah as well.
“Shafie and his government appear to have got their priorities all wrong. Their coalition partners, PKR, DAP and Upko, are equally to blame for sidelining Sabahans,” he said.
The Keningau MP and Tambunan assemblyman said a truly patriotic Sabah government and its leaders should first consider the welfare and concerns of Sabahans and to enforce the law on illegals, not the other way around.
Jeffrey pointed out that prior to the May 9 general election, DAP leaders, particularly their strongman Lim Kit Siang, would raise the issue of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah and non-action taken by the Barisan Nasional government.
However, he said, after the election and becoming part of the federal government, both PKR and DAP leaders have failed to raise the issue.
“It shows their true colours and that they do not genuinely care for Sabahans and were merely fishing for votes. After getting the votes, they now leave Sabahans in the lurch,” he said.
He said a responsible Sabah government would first consider the needs of industries before making any policy decisions on foreign workers, and not the other way around.
This, he said, was rightly pointed out by the Sabah Employers Association which advised that an in-depth study be conducted and all stakeholders should be consulted.
“Only an irresponsible government will think of legalising the illegal foreigners first without even consulting the captains of industry on their needs and without seeking out the other stakeholders.
“Shafie needs to clearly define what he means by legalising the foreign workers.
“Under the existing laws, illegals are punishable and should be sent home unless their governments through their embassies work out an amnesty or similar programme with the Malaysian government,” he said.
Jeffrey warned that ordinary Sabahans were already objecting to the move to legalise illegals.
He said the government should not blame them for thinking that in time to come, after being given the passes, the illegals would become citizens.
“It has always been my fear that Sabah will be overrun by illegals someday. It has now become the fear of most Sabahans,” he said.