The federal government must provide clear timelines for implementing recommendations on illegal immigration in Sabah and resolving outstanding documentation applications involving eligible residents, Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau says.
He urged the Home Ministry to present a progress report on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) recommendations on illegal immigrants in Sabah, detailing completed measures, outstanding matters and reasons for delays.
Madius said the ministry should work with the Sabah government to provide a comprehensive account of the implementation process, including plans, responsible agencies, allocations and deadlines for 2027.
He raised the matter during the committee-stage debate on the 2027 Budget for the Home Ministry in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.
He noted that the ministry had informed Parliament in June 2024 that a digital data collection exercise involving foreigners was being carried out in Sabah as part of efforts to address the issue.
“Tuaran asks the Home Ministry and Sabah government to present the implementation status of the RCI recommendations on immigrants. State what has been completed, what remains outstanding and why,” he said.
Madius said the government must also explain the legal action to be taken for different categories of cases and strengthen border controls to prevent further illegal entry.
He stressed that the long-standing issue required a clear implementation framework rather than repeated announcements about planned measures.
Separately, Madius called on the National Registration Department (JPN) to provide decisions or updates on applications for personal documentation in Sabah within 90 days of completing the necessary checks.
He said applicants seeking birth registration, identity cards and determination of citizenship status should not be left waiting indefinitely without knowing the progress of their cases.
The process, he said, must be based on evidence and the eligibility of each applicant, while ensuring that residents in rural and island communities could access government services.
“Families should not have to keep travelling back and forth without knowing the status of their applications,” he said.
He proposed that JPN expand its MEKAR outreach programme across Sabah, with a more structured schedule covering remote and difficult-to-reach areas.
He also called for preliminary document checks before outreach visits and the appointment of officers who could be contacted to follow up on individual applications.
Under his proposed 90-day timeframe, applicants should receive a decision or an explanation of additional documents required, reasons for delays and the date of the next action.
Madius also urged the ministry to establish district-level targets for resolving documentation cases in 2027 so that progress could be monitored systematically.
He said efforts to address illegal immigration must go hand in hand with protecting the rights of Sabah residents who were genuinely eligible for identity documents.
The government, he added, must ensure that those entitled to documentation were not overlooked while addressing the wider immigration issue.
