Malaysian prime minister: Peace deal to be felt even in Sabah

The repercussions of a Mindanao peace deal may be felt even in Sabah, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Saturday.

 

Najib said the framework peace agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which Malaysia facilitated, could bring down the number of Filipinos  fleeing unrest in Mindanao and illegally entering Sabah, while encourage current residents to return home. Hundreds of thousands of illegal Filipino immigrants in Sabah have long been a source of friction between the Philippines and Malaysia. The region has also long been considered a back door for illicit activities, and fugitives and even terrorists traveling between the two countries.

 

"We have played a role as facilitator for the peace and if we help in the development Mindanao ... it will have a positive impact on the region and Sabah," Najib said, according to an article posted in Malaysia's The Star.

 

He made the remarks at the groundbreaking of the Sabah Natives Court Institution building and the opening of the RM9.05mil-Inobong Bridge in Penampang in Kota Kinabalu.

 

The Malaysian leader will arrive in the Philippines on Sunday and witness the signing of the framework peace pact between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Monday in Malacanañang.

 

Before witnessing the signing, he will meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.

 

However, a separate article in Free Malaysia Today is not as optimistic about the impact of the peace pact, saying few in Sabah believe Filipino immigrants and refugees there will return home.

 

It quoted Kota Kinabalu-based social activist Marcel Jude as saying this was because many Filipinos had migrated to Sabah for economic reasons.

 

“In the 1970s, there were war refugees ... But that was only the tip of the iceberg. People came here because Malaysia was economically better. Whatever happens in the southern Philippines will not see the lessening of illegal immigrants to Sabah. It will continue to have this,” he said.

 

The FMT article said the large number of immigrants had been a contentious issue for local Sabah residents.

 

It said many groups have voiced concerns of becoming minorities in their state, due to the huge influx of foreigners over the years.

 

Jude also said a complication is children born to immigrants staying in Sabah, many of whom had no connection to the Philippines.

 

Worse, he said some Filipino immigrants were even supposedly given Malaysian identity cards over the years, certifying many as Sabah-born natives.

 

“Before, during Chinese New Year, all the shops would be closed because the Chinese [would go on holiday]. Now if these people closed shop, the whole economy here would come to a standstill. I don’t see why they would want to go back when they’re all making good money. Why would they want to go back?” he said, referring to the immigrants.

 

FMT said local State Reform Party (STAR) politician Awang Ahmad Shah echoed Jude's concerns, saying poor economic conditions in the Philippines would not attract Filipinos to go back home.

 

"The problem in the Philippines is that although the amount of land is huge, it is all owned by the elites and those in power. So the village people don’t even have land to buy a house. And the cost of living is just too high. Petrol, diesel and cooking oil are just so expensive," said Awang, who himself is married to a Filipino.

 

FMT quoted him as saying Malaysia’s seemingly lax restrictions on immigration were also a factor.

 

“We have to make their life tough. If they are illegal, we must send them home. It is not a question of being inhumane ... chasing them out. But if we don’t do that, they will never leave Sabah,” he said.

 

Universiti Teknologi Mara Sabah political analyst Arnold Puyok also doubted Filipino immigrants would leave the state.

 

Puyok added that the only way to solve Sabah’s immigrant problem was to have a “concrete” bilateral agreement between the Filipino and Malaysian governments. -- HS, GMA News