It will worsen situation: Jeffrey

It will worsen situation: Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said building more temporary detention centres in Sabah will worsen the illegal immigrant problem since it will be encouraging more to come.

"I suggest the Government do something more concrete by using political will. There is still no political will and it has been that way the last 20 years," he said.

He said what Sabah needs is a comprehensive foreign labour policy that provides for a win-win situation for migrant workers and host country, Malaysia.

He said, among others, the Government should lengthen the working period for foreign workers to encourage them to stay legally in the country.

The management of immigration should also be given to the State Government, while the Federal Government must make it priority to hold government-to-government talks with the neighbouring countries.

Speaking to announce a talk themed "Perubahan dan Keadilan" (Changes and Justice) to be facilitated by him as the organising chairman and PKR Advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on April 23, Dr Jeffrey claimed the present BN government has no capacity to truly address the problems.

"I see the actions taken by the Government on illegal immigrants, as announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, are not aimed at solving the problem.

"They are merely reacting to it. So the problem becomes more serious," he said, adding the BN Government must also no longer deny the importance for the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegals and problems associated with it like false documents.

On the talk, he said it would be held at Hongkod Koisaan, KDCA in Penampang at 7pm where leaders from the various communities in Sabah are invited to attend.

"We want meet with them and listen to their views on the current political scenario," he said, the PKR leaders would also be receiving applications from new members.

During the event, Dr Jeffrey would also be launching his blogsite as well as handing over the Tambunan Declaration to Anwar.

On whether PKR had obtained the necessary permit from the police to hold the function, he said, "we are in the process of getting it".