Pairin’s KDCA wants cops to act on anti-RCI gathering
Kadazandusun Cultural Association and local NGOs are upset that organisers are painting an impression that the event was made up of Sabahans when it was not so.
KOTA KINABALU: The Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), headed by Huguan Siou Joseph Pairin Kitingan, has lodged a police report against the “Majlis Himpunan Rakyat Membantah Penarikan MyKad” (Council of the Gathering of Citizens to Protest the Withdrawal of the MyKad) which plans to hold an anti-RCI event in Kota Kinabalu on May 31.
KDCA Secretary-General John Anthony, who lodged the police report accompanied by members, was responding to a poster on the event circulating in social media and WhatsApp. He disclosed that the police report urged the authorities concerned to investigate the organisers of the event and to reveal the identities of the parties, including NGOs said to be linked to it. “The police should cancel the event,” said Anthony in elaborating on his police report. “KDCA takes the view that the event is provocative in nature.”
He warned that the event was sure to elicit a response from local NGOs, especially those whose membership was made up of Orang Asal. “This would affect the peace and harmony in Sabah.”
Anthony’s remarks were echoed by Rudy Sulaiman Mairi, who heads the Pertubuhan NGO Mamagun Sabah (PMS). He expressed fears of an “untoward situation” arising from the May 31 gathering to protest the proposed recalling of MyKads in Sabah. “It’s as if there’s no respect for the Pesta Kaamatan.”
“The poster on the event is going viral in the social media.”
The KDCA and local NGOs, said Anthony, were upset the organisers were painting an impression that the event was made up of Sabahans when it was not so. “This is misleading.”
The timing of the event was suspicious, said Anthony, since it falls on Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival day). “This is unsavoury, a taint on the sacred Kaamatan celebrations of the Orang Asal who have always stressed on harmony, unity, peace and friendship in their celebrations.”
Rudy Sulaiman, resuming, said that PMS fully supported Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Deputy President Maximus Jonity Ongkili who has called for the Sabah and Federal Governments to withdraw personal documents issued to illegal immigrants and re-issue those held by Sabahans. “We have full confidence in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Chief Minister Musa Aman and Pairin that the IC issue in Sabah will be resolved.”
“The RCI Technical Committee, headed by Pairin as Deputy Chief Minister, is working on the issue.”
Those who hold genuine documents need not worry about the proposed re-issuance of MyKads in Sabah, said Rudy. “The government’s decision will not change.”
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“The citizenship issue has already gone through numerous processes and channels including the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Illegal Immigrants. The majority of the people in Sabah want MyKads in the state to be re-issued.”