KUCHING: Immigration issues in Sarawak would be a possible threat if not enforced strictly, says Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) head Francis Paul Siah.
Siah told reporters here yesterday that this would be a priority MoCS project for the year as the issues at hand were pressing and serious, requiring the utmost attention from Sarawakians.
“We believe that a serious study on immigrants, legal or otherwise, in our homeland is necessary, urgent and long overdue.
“We cannot pretend that the 950 Pakistanis, as confirmed recently by the Sarawak Immigration Department director, and possibly another 2,000 Middle Easterners lurking around in our semi-rural districts pose no danger to us,” he said.
He also said this was based on the recent arrest of three suspects in Serian town for alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
“We have reasons to believe that there are more such migrants, some in the guise of students. Sarawakians are vulnerable folks and our homeland is fertile ground for such evil indoctrination,” he added.
Siah also revealed that based on MoCS’ initial feedback from its research, many of these migrants were concentrated in Limbang, Mambong, Samarahan, Serian, Betong, Bau and Matang areas.
“Even Julau, and possibly Kapit, are not spared. We have also received reports that these migrants have been going in and out of Sarawak or Kalimantan via immigration posts at Tebedu and Serikin.”
He also mentioned that “even our border with Brunei is another popular entry point for illegal aliens based on reports received by MoCs.”
“We understand that Sarawak’s porous border has made it more difficult for our authorities to tackle the influx of illegal immigrants,” he added.
Siah also said that MoCS would work closely with all political parties, community leaders, society, religious organisations and all who share the love for Sarawak.
“I myself would personally go down to those areas (the entry points for migrants) to continue the research there. We, MoCS with five associate professors from our local universities, will investigate this issue thoroughly.
“MoCS welcomes genuine immigrants to Sarawak here for work or education but we have to shut our doors to those out to disrupt the strong bonds shared by our culturally rich and socially cohesive community,” Siah stressed.
He also added that immigration was a Sarawak autonomy, which must be jealously guarded. “We must learn from Sabah and never allow a repeat of ‘Project IC’ to occur here.”
Also present at the press conference were MoCS Kuching coordinator Michael Lim and MoCS Kuching committee member Ursula Ting.
