Malaysians in Sabah oppose permanent resident status for Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines - Malaysian group in Sabah is opposed to a proposal to give Filipinos who have stayed in the state for some time Permanent Resident (PR) status.

Online news site Borneo Bulletin reported Saturday that group wants the government to act sternly on illegal immigrants by deporting them once they landed in the country.

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Teck Lee also said the Philippine government should not make such a proposal but instead cooperate by taking its citizens back.

The report said the position was a response to a reported statement by Philippine foreign affairs undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr., who proposed that Filipinos in Sabah be given permanent resident status.

He said it would be "a shame" and "downgrade the integrity of Malaysia" if the government would just give in to the proposal by the Philippine government on illegal immigrants.

Also, he said both countries should discuss to find ways to resolve the problem.

"No one in their right mind wanted to do this (giving PR to illegal
immigrants) unless there is a good reason to do it," the report quoted him as saying.

Also he described the proposal by the Philippine government as shirking its responsibility to the 200,000 Filipinos working in Sabah's plantation and construction sectors.

He urged the Malaysian government to take an aggressive approach to the people and not wait for the Philippine government to act. - GMANews.TV

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