SARAWAK will maintain a strict immigration policy on Sabahans entering the state, said chief minister Abang Johari Openg.

He said he too wants free flow of movement of people between the two states but it is not possible as Sabah is grappling with a refugee problem.

Over the years, refugees and illegal immigrants from Philippines and Indonesia have been a social issue for Sabah.

“For Sabahans and Sarawakians, it’s no problem.

“But there are unknown factors such as refugees entering Sabah and other geo-political situations,” he said last night during his Kota Kinabalu visit to meet Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Sabah has relaxed its immigration laws to allow Sarawakians to do more than just social visits some 30 years ago, but Sarawak still maintains a certain degree of border control.

Sabahans travelling to the state had to adhere to the 90-day visit limitation under Sarawak’s immigration regulations.

Both chief ministers have agreed to increase cooperation to tap into economic potential in Borneo in view of the relocation of the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta to East Kalimantan.

Both states are also open to have an airline firm to increase mobility of locals in the rural areas, boost local tourism and increase connectivity to other places in Borneo, such as Kalimantan and Brunei. – October 15, 2019.