The Sabah chief minister has welcomed the federal government’s move to put an end to the “complex” problem of statelessness in the state. 

Shafie Apdal said while no one should be denied their birthright, the matter must be carefully dealt with so as to prevent a scandal such as Project IC.

“This is something we must welcome. The problem is affecting the lives of our own people, especially the young,” he said.

“But we must look into it in detail and work out how best to solve the problem in Sabah. 

“We need to consider who can be accorded (citizenship) and what problems we can prevent,” he told reporters, after launching National Month in Kota Kinabalu, today. 

For example, Shafie said there were those living in the remote areas of Sabah who were still without the MyKad, as well as foreigners who were not yet permanent residents but had stayed in the country long enough and fulfilled all the requirements to claim the status.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad two days ago announced that stateless residents and red MyKad holders aged 60 and above would be recognised as citizens. 

Shafie said the matter was one of the utmost priority, adding that the government would make sure the operation was not another Project IC in the making.  

Project IC was a controversial programme launched during Dr Mahathir’s first stint as the prime minister to grant illegal immigrants citizenship. Some had said the programme was the Malaysian government’s sneaky way of gaining more voters.

A royal commission of inquiry had looked into the accusations, including that Dr Mahathir was the project mastermind, in 2013, ahead of the 13th general election.

Meanwhile, Shafie said foreign workers in Sabah were to be regulated, not given the MyKad, in reference to his announcement that illegal migrants presently working in various sectors across the state would receive a special pass. – August 16, 2018.