He said it was about time the issue over migrants in the state be addressed through new solutions.

“The problem of foreigners in Sabah has become quite big and so, the time has come for us to use new methods to identify who they are,” he told reporters after an event here today.

He said the government cannot delay the matter any further, adding that political will and cooperation from everyone is needed to ensure the programme succeeded.

Hamzah had previously said the proposed identity card would not give migrants citizenship or permanent resident status, but would allow foreign nationals to work in Malaysia legally and their children to attend school.

However, the proposal has received strong backlash from leaders from both sides of the political divide as well as influential local leaders such as Joseph Pairin Kitingan who is the Huguan Siou, or paramount leader of the Kadazan Dusun Murut community.

Chief minister Hajiji Noor later said the document mentioned by Hamzah was actually a proposed “kad warga asing” (foreigner’s card) on which the Sabah government has yet to make a decision.

Commenting further on the issue today, Hamzah said the government’s intention to create the card specifically for foreigners in the state was solely in the interest of Sabahans.

“It is not for any individual’s interest but only for Sabahans because we want to identify who are (the foreigners) residing in Sabah,” he said.

He also welcomed suggestions or views from any party to improve the proposal.