In a statement today, Chen said the letters issued during Shafie’s time as chief minister “clearly do not refer to illegal immigrant applicants”.
Chen, who is also a member of Warisan’s Supreme Council, said the lack of documentation is often due to logistical challenges which prevent families from registering births in time.
“In some cases, parents do not have marriage certificates, further complicating the process of registering their children.
“What is so wrong with Shafie helping local boys and girls who lack full documentation and have been deprived of citizenship solely by their inability to register?
“We have been trying to help locals, not illegal immigrants. Why attempt to link Shafie with illegal immigrants?
“The defamatory statement claiming ‘Shafie and illegal immigrants cannot be separated’ is categorically false, malicious, and baseless,” he said.
Last Saturday, the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) urged the authorities to investigate the circulation of two documents allegedly containing written instructions from Shafie supporting applications for identification documents.
One, dated April 26, 2019, asked the authorities to expedite an extension application from a resident of Semporna for the MyKAS temporary resident identity card, while the other dated Oct 9, 2019, was for the citizenship application of the child of a resident in Lahat Datu.
KDCA Youth chief Steve Johnny Mositun questioned the alleged political interference and urged the national registration department (JPN) and home ministry to disclose the number of MyKAS, MyPR, and MyKad applications supported by Shafie when he was the chief minister between 2018 and 2020.
Chen said three cease-and-desist letters had been issued to people spreading defamatory statements about Warisan and its leadership.
He said legal action would be forthcoming if those involved did not retract their statements and apologise publicly within seven days of receiving the letters.
“It is also crucial to clarify that no chief minister of Sabah, or any state leader, has the authority to issue citizenship or identification documents.
“The power to do so resides solely with the federal government, particularly JPN and the home ministry,” he said.