RCI On Illegal Immigrants In Sabah Extended By Six Months

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysian King Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah has extended the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah by six months, from March 21 to Sept 20, this year. Commission secretary Saripuddin Kasim in a statement Wednesday said the extension was aimed at completing the investigation and compilation of reports according to Section 5 of the Commission of Enquiry Act 1950 (Act 119). He said the membership and terms of reference of the commission would remain the same as the credential in the establishment of the commission on Sept 21, 2012. The appointment of the commission chairman and its members was announced by the Prime Minister Najib Razak on Aug 11, last year to resolve problems of illegal immigrants in Sabah, one of the two Malaysian states on Borneo island. The commission was given six months to wrap up investigations and present an investigation report with proposals, to the King from the date of the appointment of its panel on Sept 21. The commission's initial date expires on March 20. The hearing of the commission began on Jan 14, at the Kota Kinabalu High Court before a five-member panel headed by former Sabah and Sarawak chief justice, Steve Shim Lip Kiong. Eight terms of reference were outlined among which was to investigate the total number of foreign immigrants in Sabah who were blue identity cards or citizenship, according to the provisions of the law and the cause of a population increase in Sabah. To date, 62 witnesses had been called to testify since the first hearing session began on Jan 14, while the fourth session scheduled from March 5 to 9 was postponed. It was learnt that the parties involved in the proceeding will hold a meeting with panel members in Kota Kinabalu on its proceeding this Monday and the hearing set for March 18 and 21, has also been cleared. -- BERNAMA