Stateless issues in Sabah should be viewed separately, says humanitarian organisation

PUTRAJAYA: Issues surrounding the citizenship and statelessness plaguing those from Sabah should be looked at separately from those from the Peninsular, says the Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO).

Its secretary-general, Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim, said many born in Sabah are left in limbo without proper identification documents.

“There are many from Sabah that have somehow ended up in Peninsular Malaysia, but when they want to submit any applications for identification, they are being told to go back to the state.

“The conundrum here is that without valid documentation, they cannot return. As such, we are urging that the documentation process be done here in Peninsular Malaysia.

“We are also urging the government to speed up the pilot project to digitalise illegal immigrants, and those without citizenship in Sabah can be resolved,” he told a press on Tuesday (Nov 7).

Earlier, Hishamuddin submitted a memorandum to a representative of the Home Ministry, Mohamad Khusaini Abdul Manan, detailing some of their concerns over the amendments to the Citizenship Act.

He said they welcomed the amendments in addressing and resolving the stateless issues in the country.

Hishamuddin also appreciated the efforts taken by the government, especially by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, while hoping their recommendations would be greatly considered.

MHO Sabah chief of operations Captain (R) Jerry Bin Jaimeh said the Sabah government had previously welcomed those from the southern Philippines and Kalimantan refugees in the 1970s.

The Malaysian government then negotiated with the United Nations and allowed some 144,000 refugees to enter the country, he said.

“The documents issued since then to the people have changed over the years from Burung-Burung certificate, Welfare Department, special passport and many more apart from IMM13.

“Now we have new generations mostly consisting of their grandchildren who have been unable to inherit these documents, and further complicated by Sabahans marrying these stateless people.

“But the stateless people faced issues obtaining documents from the Philippines, which caused complications because of the current law requiring marriage certificates,” he said.

Capt Jerry added the issues have become bigger, involving increased populations. He urged the government to resolve them so that the stateless people could live a more humane life.

Most children of stateless people have been unable to get access to education and healthcare and secure their future.