Clarification by Chin Shu Yang, LDP Youth Leader

Further to press statements by PBS President, Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, in the local Daily Express papers on 3rd Sept 09, I would like to clarify the earlier statement made by our Party Deputy President Datuk Chin Su Phin on the issue of Permanent Resident status for Sarawakians and West Malaysians.

First of all, I wish to inform the public that our Deputy President did not and has never called for the abolition of the required work permits. In his speech at Tawau recently, he is calling the State Government to consider giving permanent resident status to Sarawakians and West Malaysians who have been working in Sabah for more than 10 years so that they no longer need to face the hassle of renewing their work permit from time to time. 

This is in view of the fact that quite a number of Sarawakians and West Malaysians who have been staying and working in Sabah for 10, 20 and some even 30 years but still need to face the problem of renewing their work permit. They include teachers, doctors, nurses, police, army and government servants of which some have married local Sabahans. This group of people have contributed a lot to the progress and well being of the people in Sabah. As such, they deserve to be given due recognition for their contribution to the state. If they have the intention to stay here for good, it is only right that they be given the status of permanent resident in line with the concept of One Malaysia.  

LDP is well aware of the need to protect the rights and interests of the people of Sabah and understand that the requirement of the work permits for West Malaysian is part and parcel of that right. However, we have given up part of that right by allowing Sarawakians to work in Sabah without the need of a work permit. This is made possible by none other than Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan himself when he was the Chief Minister of Sabah of the day. [He may have conveniently forgotten about this fact.] We now find a lot of Sarawakians working and doing business in Sabah and contributing to the development of Sabah. Whether this is good or bad for Sabah is for everyone to make their own judgment.