Sabah MCA women’s chief Pamela Yong said such cards were “mere ‘receipts'” showing that they had registered with the authorities for the purposes of the survey.

“No legal document from the immigration department was issued or given,” she said in a statement.

She added that only the federal government has a say in issuing legal documents for foreigners.

“The state has no such power or authority under our Federal Constitution. So state documents issued by the state government are not legally binding in this case,” she said.

The Warisan-led Sabah government recently said it would replace the IMM13, Surat Burung Burung and Census cards with PSS in an effort to regulate and monitor illegal immigrants under a centralised database.

Yong said the state should have repatriated illegal immigrants instead of legalising them with a document that can be renewed every three years.

“These illegals could also be in possession of falsified documents. One wonders whether this Warisan government decision has taken into consideration Sabahans’ sentiments.”

She also questioned the claim that issuing PSS could solve overcrowding at detention centres, calling them “get out of jail” cards which she said could have repercussions on the state’s demographics.

“They can and will settle down, marry and have children born of local Sabahans. These children of theirs will be absorbed and assimilated into our society and by process of law entitled to be made citizens,” she said.