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8th September, 2010
KOTA KINABALU: PBS has welcomed the ongoing efforts by the government of Malaysia to strengthen ties with Indonesia following the August 13 incident.
PBS secretary general, Datuk Henrynus Amin, said friendly relations with neighboring Indonesia must be placed in the right footing as the two countries enjoy close historical and cultural ties, not to mention the growing economic, political and regional cooperation.
Henrynus said Malaysians in Sabah appreciate the hands of friendship from the Indonesian people as conveyed by their Foreign Minister.
“PBS therefore fully supports the diplomatic initiative by the Malaysian Foreign Minister, Datuk Anifah Aman, to discuss bilateral issues affecting both countries,” said Henrynus who is also former MP of Kinabalu (now Ranau).
Commending the timing and choice of venue for the meeting between the two foreign ministers in Kota Kinabalu during the fasting month, he said the meeting between the two foreign ministers augurs well for the people of Sabah.
“It signifies the importance of Sabah and the fact we have for the first time a local Sabahan as Malaysian Foreign Minister.”
“This is a unique opportunity for our Sabahan Foreign Minister to help resolve the issue of foreign workers and illegal immigration directly with foreign governments.
“We believe Datuk Anifah is the right man for the job and thanked the Prime Minister for his confidence in the ability of a local Sabahan to hold such an important post in the federal government,” he said.
On the call for both countries to refrain from activities deemed sensitive to each other’s feelings, Henrynus said PBS fully subscribed to the need for cordial ties between the two ethnic cousins.
He said PBS certainly has no problem with Indonesian tourists or business people, or even workers coming to Sabah to earn a decent living for their families back home.
“But just like in any other country, Malaysia has its own set of laws and customs, and expects guest workers to be law abiding, respecting the local customs, working and staying as temporary workers,” he added.
He said Indonesian workers have contributed immensely to the economy of Sabah especially those who came with the necessary skills and talents in the construction and plantation industry, not to mention as trained domestic help.
“But PBS is weary of the thousands of migrants arriving in Sabah without being documented, and where in many cases had no intention of returning to their home country.”
He also said PBS expects foreign workers to come to Sabah through the front door with the necessary papers or permits and leave once their visa or permit expires.
“Foreigners at least have the courtesy to knock on the door before entering and working,” he said referring to the need to come to Sabah through the legal channel.
“Those who came legally through the front door are guests to be treated with mutual respect and accorded with local courtesy as guest workers during their stay in this country.”
“However, illegal immigrants as the term suggest have broken the law and therefore must face the law or be deported if caught,” he pointed out.
Henrynus also said PBS is against any mistreatment of illegal immigrants and wants them treated humanely with dignity during detention and before their repatriation.
Foreign workers, he added, should not fear the authority as long as they observe the law of the land.
For that matter, PBS had supported the proposed minimum wage to ensure foreign and local workers enjoy the same benefits for the same job.
He said PBS is against employers treating foreign labor as cheap labour tantamount to slavery working with very low pay under very unfavorable working conditions.
“Foreign workers have used by unscrupulous employers as low wage or cheap labor to distort the market value of local workers who expect better wages and better working condition.”
“PBS regrets that some employers refuse to hire local workers whom they accused as being lazy and indiscipline when in fact they were not given sufficient incentive and often denied the true market value of their labor.
“The minimum wage policy proposed by the federal government will allow market forces to correct past distortion once wages are standardized and employers have no choice but to respect the law,” he said.
He also said a minimum wage policy would reduce exploitation of foreign workers as cheap labour, which has been used by unscrupulous employers to discriminate against local workers.
“For the record, PBS had agreed that education for children is very important and the party therefore has no problem supporting the Indonesian consulate’s initiative to provide schooling for their citizens.
“However, we wish to register on record our concern about unskilled foreign workers bringing their big family to have children in Sabah who then grew up undocumented and stateless.
“Cases where foreigners deliberately overstayed their visa or work permits and then attempt to become citizens through dubious means are established facts,” he said.
“By and large, foreign workers in Sabah are law abiding, but there are significant numbers who committed serious crime such as armed robbery, murder, drugs pushing, among others,” he noted.
He said PBS views on these issues including the perennial problem of illegal immigrants, phantom voters and fake identity cards are clear.
“Local Sabahans generally have positive view of foreign workers but at the same time they are very suspicious of those who obtained dubious Malaysian identity cards to make them bone fide citizens,” he said.
Henrynus meanwhile commended the police and other enforcement agencies for their active role in arresting and deporting illegal immigrants, but the party would investigate rumours that illegal immigrants arrested by police were often released because they have IMM13 documents issued to them.
He said PBS also welcomed the appointment of a local Sabahan as the new director of Immigration.
“Sabah has immigration powers to act against foreigners who stayed in Sabah illegally.
“PBS therefore seeks to have the issue of illegal immigrants included as one of the National Key Results Areas (NKRA) to ensure enforcements agencies are held accountable for their action or inaction.”
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