Putrajaya dodging Parliament over Sabah RCI
MalaysiaKini.com
Nov 17, 2014

DAP's Sandakan MP Stephen Wong is fuming at Putrajaya's attempt to dodge Parliament ahead of the release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah report.

He pointed out that despite the government's repeated promises that the report will be tabled in Parliament, Putrajaya has now fixed the release of the report after the Parliament sitting.

Tabling the report in Parliament would allow the report to be debated by the MPs.

"If the RCI report bypass Parliament (when it is) revealed to the public, it shows the BN government is not sincere in facing public opinion as well as constructive criticism or suggestions by MPs.

"The people should have a say in this report which will decide the future of Sabah," said Wong (right) in a statement today.

Last Saturday, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced that the RCI report will be made public next month.

However, the last day of the Dewan Rakyat sitting is Nov 27. 

The RCI was set up in 2012 despite inertia from Umno after a revolt from Sabah BN parties including Upko and Parti Bersatu Sabah.

During the course of its almost year-long hearing, the commission heard of covert operations by senior government officials to illegally grant citizenship to immigrants in exchange for votes.

Wong also flayed Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan who had on Oct 6 assured that the report would be tabled in Parliament.

"Isn't the outcome of a cabinet meeting based on a consensus and that the government practices collective responsibility?

"Either Abdul Rahman or Najib have gone against he decision of the cabinet," he said.

He stressed that illegal immigrants is a serious issue in Sabah and can only be resolved through open discussions, particularly in Parliament and the state assemblies.

He also urged the Sabah government to involve opposition politicians, NGOs and academicians to address the report when it does get released.

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