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Kota Kinabalu: United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) welcomed the setting up of the Special Unit at the National Registration Department (NRD) and Immigration Department to clear backlogfor citizenship and Permanent Resident status, but with reservations.
"We understand the delay when foreigners are concerned. However quite a number of red MyPR holders who are by every right Sabahans save for the fact that they were born in another country, have been waiting for decades for their application for citizenship to be approved. "We hope the Special Unit will prioritise to settle these cases," said Upko Citizenship and Security Bureau chief, Donald Mojuntin. He said there were also cases of PR applications by foreigners married legally to local Sabahans who have been waiting for the result of their applications for a long time. In the meantime, he said holders of the IMM13 document seemed to be getting their PR applications so easily. "Of course, this has become a sore point and a source of discontentment for locals," he said, Wednesday. Upko also begged to differ with Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar that efforts to help the rakyat with regards to birth certificates, citizenship and status for their foreign spouses were "politicising" it. "As far as we are concerned, these are real issues that our people face day to day and there is an urgency to sort them out. Every responsible leader of the State and country should be very concerned with a matter as fundamental as cases of "anak watan" (native) Sabah being denied citizenship. Upko also questioned the long period for the authorities to make their consideration. "When a file reaches NRD Putrajaya, how many times does it have to be looked at before they are sure the application is genuine? Does the NRD have surveillance officers to monitor the applicants for years?," he asked. Donald who is also Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister said most of the cases involving natives are straightforward and this fact can be verified effectively if NRD officers interview family members and community leaders. He said it is understandable that each case must receive the utmost scrutiny to ensure there is no forgery or abuse. "But why is such scrutiny only reserved for genuine applicants compared to apparently easier and express process for illegal immigrants and even IMM13 holders? "This is the heart wrenching reality for Sabahans. The Home Ministry and the departments under it must realise and accept this. It must be a factor to be considered when looking through relevant applications from Sabah. "Whether we like it or not the perception and belief of the Sabah people is that it is easier for illegals and IMM13 holders to obtain legal documents by illegitimate means than for genuine applicants who follow the legal process. "The Special Unit must also address this," he said. Meanwhile, he said the bureau had been inundated with requests for assistance from all over Sabah with their respective applications and problems related to the NRD. The cases received varied, mostly involving birth certificates, citizenship and PR status. "We hope that we can work hand in hand with the NRD to settle as many of these cases as possible. "We managed to meet the new Director on our last visit and we are happy to say that he has agreed to have a roundtable discussion with the bureau in the near future," he said. - Daily Express, Sabah
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