TUESDAY-18TH DECEMBER 2007-State Govt serious in solving illegal problem: Pairin

State Govt serious in solving illegal problem: Pairin
KENINGAU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan has denied the opposition claim that the Government was not serious in handling the illegal immigrant problem in the State. He said various measures and actions had been taken by the Government, including operations to arrest and send these foreigners back to their country of origin. “The Barisan Nasioal (BN) Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is very concerned about -the illegal immigrant problem in this country and will overcome it soon,” he said at a meet-the-people session for eight villages at Kampung Toboh Laut here on Sunday. About 1,000 people from Kampung Toboh Laut, Baginda Ulu, Kota Ayangan, Baginda Laut, Tigot, Tuarid aud, Tuarid Liawan Low Cost Housing and Dangulad, including Datin Seri Panglima Genevieve Kitingan, Liawan Assemblyman Datuk Haji Sairin Karno and Bingkor Assemblyman Justin Guka were present at the function. Pairin who is also the Rural Development Minister, ensured that with cooperation from all quarters, including the security forces, the illegal immigrant problem in the State could be resolved. He said every individual, including community leaders such as village headmen, Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairmen and native chiefs, must be committed and work together to give information to the security forces on illegal immigrants hiding in their areas. According to him, protecting illegal immigrants is an offence and those found doing so can be charged in court under the Immigration Act. Meanwhile, Pairin who is also the president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), hit out at the opposition leaders, especially those from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) for saying that the BN Government had failed to handle the illegal immigrant and poverty issues in the State. “They went to the villages and raised the old issues to confuse the people. If they are true leaders who are going to help the people, they should have done it when they were with us (BN),” he said. Pairin also praised Pak Lah’s leadership which brought a lot of development to Sabah and Sarawak. He urged the people in the State to unite and continue to defend the BN struggle. “The people need a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous Government which can give them progress and development. Only the BN which practises sharing power among the ethnics in this country, can do it,” he said. At the function, Pairin declared open the village’s concrete bridge and library building and announced several development projects for the eight villages which will be implemented next year. He also accepted 102 new PBS members from several villages in Mukim Tuarid Liawan.