PARTI Solidariti Tanah Airku has expressed support for calls to repatriate Filipino refugees in Sabah. 

Its information chief, Jeffrey Kumin, today said the time was right as peace has long been in place in Mindanao and that they had overstayed their welcome in Sabah.  

“The government should also stop all aid and policies to extend visitation passes to refugees and their children. 

“They should be thankful for being given shelter, a place to stay and work for all the years they have been in Sabah,” he said. 

Last night, Petagas assemblyman James Ligunjang, in defence of former foreign minister Anifah Aman, urged the state government to start the process of repatriating  refugees on special IMM13 passes. 

The war of words between the ruling camp and Anifah followed a rush on Thursday by IMM13 holders to the Immigration office in Wisma Dang Bandang to register their children. 

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The IMM13 passes had been issued by the Immigration Department to Filipino refugees entering Sabah between 1972 and 1984 who were fleeing war in Mindanao. 

Kumin said refugees who had stayed in Sabah since the 1970s must return to their country to get passport and working pass if they wished to continue working in Sabah. 

He also urged the government to reclaim land given to refugees as settlements so that the government could give them to Sabahans. 

“The government resolve the stateless persons problem in many rural areas in Sabah instead of focusing on IMM13 holders. 

“There are still thousands of locals without birth certificates and MyKads in these areas.” – October 16, 2018.