DAP wants RCI report to be tabled in parliament next week, not next month!

BY DAP STAFF

SANDAKAN:- DAP Sabah strongly condemn the decision that RCI report to investigate illegal immigrant issue in Sabah would be tabled next month, according to the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Its Deputy Chairman Stephen Wong said that it supposed to be tabled in the parliament sitting. "If it is said to be tabled next month, the parliament sitting is over. Without going through debate in parliament, there will be no public opinion or democratic process involved in the report finding." he added.

He said the report should be revealed to the public and let the parliamentarians to take part in debate to share and discuss the findings of RCI report. The debate would certainly help to find out a way to resolve the illegal immigrant issue in Sabah.

Wong who is MP for Sandakan has lambasted such decision which is totally not respect the democratic process of the state. "Parliamentarian is representing the people on the ground. If RCI report bypass parliament and reveal to public, it shows again the Barisan Nasional government will never sincere to face the public opinion as well as constructive criticism or suggestion by parliamentarians. The people should have a say in this report which will decide their future of Sabah." He said.

He also questioned the credibility of federal cabinet and ministers on their inconsistent and contradictory statements on the reveal of RCI report. He said Federal Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan had made assurance that the RCI report will be made public after it is tabled in the parliament. This statement was made on 6 Oct which is right before the sitting of parliament.

"Why an attendee as well as minister in the federal cabinet meeting can said a different thing which was contradict to the announcement by Najib? What's wrong in there? Isn't that outcome of cabinet meeting would be consensus of government and practiced in collective responsibility? Apparently either Rahman Dahlan or Najib has against the decision of cabinet meeting, but the question is, who is saying the right thing?" Wong questioned.

Rahman Dahlan said it would be tabled in parliament but after almost two months sitting, now Najib said it would be tabled next month which the parliament sitting is over.

The RCI report was announced by PM Najib on 2012, the whole process has taken 2 years more to complete. Wong said, Sabahan has been waiting the report for so long, after the submission of RCI report to the government, it was delayed for almost half year to be revealed. Why it takes so long to disclose to public? Is there any changes in the final report from the original one?

"I hope government could come clean in everything about this RCI report. As illegal immigrant issue is the mother of problem in Sabah, the way to resolve this issue should be opened for discussion and involvement of public including the debate in both parliament and state assembly hall." Wong reiterated.

He also comment on the appointment of Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan to head the committee to pursue the contents of the report. He said, although it is good intention to let Pairin to head this committee, however he cannot represent the entire Sabahan society. He said the committee should open to invite every particular representative including opposition politician, NGOs, indigenous people leader, media, professors etc to make it more representable.

Wong has repeatedly mention this RCI report during his last few debate speeches in parliament. He consistently pressure the government to reveal it to the public as soon as possible for the benefit of Sabahan. After all, he said, the problem has became too complicated and brought serious impact and consequence to the future of Sabah, it cannot wait anymore. It should be resolved immediately.