Its chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain said the remark, as relayed by Abang Johari Openg, should not be taken lightly.

“We are shocked to learn about this from a report in an online news portal.

“Sabah Umno Youth strongly condemns such moves and urge all Sabahans, regardless of their political stance, to be united and protect our rights as enshrined under the constitution.

“This is not something that we can ignore. It’s not something we can just sweep under the rug as just another disturbing remark from a deputy minister,” he said here today.

Aziz also said the state should make a clear stand on the issue.

“We humbly request the current chief minister Shafie Apdal to be bold like his Sarawak counterpart and clearly state the Sabah government’s stand on the matter,” he said.

Yesterday, Abang Johari was quoted as saying that he had recently shot down the proposal for Sarawak to give up its autonomy on immigration matters.

“There was this deputy minister who approached me and suggested that we abolish our immigration rights. The person said to me, ‘It’s about time for us (Sarawak) not to have immigration control’.

“I said no,” Abang Johari was quoted by Bernama as saying. He said the state would defend its powers on immigration matters.

Aziz said it was unthinkable for a deputy minister to make such a remark which was against the wishes of the people in Sabah and Sarawak.

“Hopefully, the deputy minister does not hail from Sabah or Sarawak or else it will be awkward,” he said.

He said the alleged remarks from the deputy minister was tantamount
to insulting the spirit of “Sabah For Sabahans” mooted by the state’s leaders before the May 9 polls.