I have faxed notice to the Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin to move a substantive motion to review and overrule the decision of Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee in disallowing me from moving an amendment to the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address yesterday in order to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the 30-year problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah, reducing Sabahans into a minority in their own homeland.
My substantive motion reads:
“That under Standing Order 43 the House reviews the decision of Deputy Speaker YB Datuk Ronald Kandee in disallowing MP for Ipoh Timor YB Lim Kit Siang from moving an amendment to the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address on Thursday, 22nd May 2008 and resolves that the decision of the Chair was wrong and misconceived as it is contrary to parliamentary conventions and practices in Malaysia and the Commonwealth.”
As a substantive motion under S.O. 43 shall not require more than two days’ notice, this means that it should be able to be debated by the Dewan Rakyat next week.
In the first parliamentary meeting after the 1982 general election, the first of the five general elections under the premiership of Tun Dr. Mahathir, I had moved an amendment to the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat on 12th October 1982.
The amendment, adding to to the Motion of Thanks, was to include the following:
“And noting the grave law and order problem created by the influx of illegal Indonesian illegal immigrants causing armed robberies and murders, URGES the government to crack down on the illegal Indonesian immigrants by estsblishing a Special Task Force III (Indonesian Illegal Immigrants) to stop the influx of illegal Indonesian immigrants.”
The amending motion to the Motion of Thanks was accepted by the Speaker at the time, Datuk Mohamed Zahir Ismail, who went on to be the longest-serving Parliament Speaker for 22 years from 1982 to 2004.
The amending motion was defeated in a voice vote on 13rd October 1982 after a debate.
In the Indian Parliament, there would be scores of amendments to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidential Address every year.
Robert Kiandee cannot be more wrong when he said that it was not proper “tidak sopan” to amend the Motion of Thanks, as it is universally accepted parliamentary practice to amend Motion of Thanks for the Address by the head of state, as it is a debate on the government’s policy for the coming year, allowing for any policy proposal to be raised, whether in speeches or by way of amending motions.
Otherwise, there would be no need for the Dewan Rakyat to spend 12 days to debate the Royal Address, with 7 days for debate by MPs and 5 days for Ministers’ winding-up, as all that the MPs and Ministers should do is to stand up to express thanks to the Yang di Pertuan Agong for the Royal Address – which could be done in a matter of a few minutes each!
#1 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 25 May 2008 - 2:13 am
“I travel to the US quite frequently and to various regions. One of the trends that I noted in the last several years is the acceptance of Spanish as a sort of 2nd language. Many of the big stores now carry signs and also make announcements in Spanish. I would not be surprised if I found this in the West Coast but I this seems to be prevalent even in the East Coast …” killer
I live in a quaint Hispanic town by the sea from where I could see Manhattan from afar. Everybody in this town speaks Spanish though they can speak English. Spanish is the preferred language so to speak. Do not look down on the Hispanics. They look down on us Asians. Spanish is taught in schools but it is not compulsory. Spanish has always been a second language though whites generally don’t want to have to learn to speak the language. But that is fast changing. Many are beginning to learn Mandarin and Arabic. If you’re bilingual you’d find it easier to get a job – even in the east coast.
I do not know if you are aware that some Hispanics are classified as Whites i.e. Hispanic Whites according to the U.S. Bureau of Census. They look much like the non-Hispanic Whites.
Talking about racism, in case you guys think of escaping racism by coming here, don’t! Racism is very much alive in the U.S. The U.N. has last week accused the U.S. of racism.
Let’s just say it is more tolerable and less degrading in Malaysia because it involves people of the same broad ethnic group – Asians.
#2 by ADAM YONG IBNI ABDULLAH on Sunday, 25 May 2008 - 5:30 am
killer:
I am still waiting for you to apologise to YB Lim Kit Siang.
(you who claim to know more).
(you who claim to be able to hasten and smoothen the departure of notproudtobemalaysian.)
#3 by lopez on Sunday, 25 May 2008 - 7:48 am
not only in sapah and sahawak, got illegal immigrants, dem fellas already in peninsula , check dem out claimed to be skillful in construction work and , claiming hometown from sapah or sarawah, …. hey got IC one you know.
Case close no threat here,……hehahe
Motion pass, next please….
#4 by Killer on Sunday, 25 May 2008 - 9:34 am
undergrad2
The observation that I noted was the usage of Spanish signs and even PA announcements in many large malls and stores. This was only recently introduced I believe. Does this mean that the Latins have moved from being illegals to the mainstream and middleclass ? The migrants were always there but this shift got me thinking if there is a slow but significant shift in demographics and social status of the Latinos ?
And yes, I agree about the racism. This has recently risen especially with the outsourcing of jobs to Asia. Many years ago people were friendlier but now folks can be downright hostile. I found it to be worse in smaller towns.
#5 by Malaysian on Sunday, 25 May 2008 - 11:01 am
According to today Daily Express, Tuaran MP Datuk Wilfred Bumburing said it is not true that Sabah MPs were against the proposal to set up the RCI on illegal Immigrants. Bumburing, who is also UPKO Deputy President, said ” To say that the Sabah MPs reject the motion by DAP MP Lim Kit Siang is not corect at all as the House Speaker (Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee) rejected the motion and it had never been tabled.
Bumburing was responded to the statement by Kimanis MP Anifah Aman that Sabah MPs were against the proposal to set up the RCI on Illegal Immigrants that was moved by Lim on Friday. “We, in UPKO believe the Royal Commission of Inquiry is the best way to takle the problem of iilegal immigrants in Sabah.” he said.
Bumburing said he was equally surprised to learn through the media that Anifah is the new Sabah MP Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) Chairman.
It clearly showed that UMNO and his dog PBS is the only party that against the move to seeting up the RCI on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah.
#6 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 25 May 2008 - 7:39 pm
“The migrants were always there but this shift got me thinking if there is a slow but significant shift in demographics and social status of the Latinos ?” killer
You’re right on the shift but not on the timing. This shift in demographics is not a recent phenomenon. Bear in mind that most of south west United States not too long ago belonged to Mexico. Some say with illegal immigration, the Mexicans are trying to re-claim what was once theirs! In fact Hispanic talk show hosts over the radio often refer to it as such – mostly in a lighter vein, of course. I don’t know if you have heard of ‘anchor babies’ a term used within the context of the discussion on illegal immigration. You have say a pregnant Mexican woman walking across the southern border and later giving birth to a son. That son is a U.S. citizen – following the principle of jus soli. And so the process continues. Coupled with the fact that the birth rate among Hispanics and Latinos is higher than that among non-Hispanic whites, in the year 2050, non-White Hispanic population of the United States will exceed that of the non-Hispanic White population. Some refer to this as the “browning of America”!
President Sukarno of Indonesia during the Malaysia-Indonesian conflict in the early 60s accused Malaysia of being a neo-colonialist plot – and claimed Sarawak and Sabah as part of Indonesian territories, a claim not too dissimilar to the ‘claim’ by Mexicans say to California today (minus the ‘neo-colonialist plot’ slant of course). There are elements of truth to that claim. Wouldn’t you say?
The Chinese in Sabah are relatively recent migrants to this part of the Indonesian Archipelago. Indonesian Chinese in neighboring Sulawesi are part of that same wave of migration.. The intermarrying between the Chinese and the natives in Southern Sulawesi has given rise to a new ‘race’ the Bugis who are seafarers or pirates who came to settle in Pahang and Johor.
Today what we are seeing are waves of economic migrants – from Indonesian Kalimantan, encouraged by the Malay leadership in Kuala Lumpur as an hoc solution to its political problem and in an attempt to break the political impasse if you will – coming across to Sabah, much like what we are seeing in the south west of United States except that in the case of the United States, this is being resisted by its government.
Today’s solution will be tomorrow’s problem.
#7 by undergrad2 on Sunday, 25 May 2008 - 7:58 pm
Today whenever I read someone writes “We Sabahans” I can’t say I know what or whom the writer is referring to?? Is there such a thing, race or religious group as a “Sabahan” – or a Perakian or a Penangite for that matter? Is there such a thing as a typical Sabahan? Is the typical Sabahan a Christian?
Whilst it is true the term “Perakian” does not generate the same kind of controversy and emotions as does “Sabahan” today, we need to be clear just who this “Sabahan” is.
#8 by miketan142 on Sunday, 25 May 2008 - 8:43 pm
Dear undergrad2,
Correct me if I am wrong, in Sabah, it is the state before the country and whereas in peninsula it is country first
In west malaysia, perakians or penangites normally refer to which part or the country one come from and the patriotism probably in interstate sports.
#9 by bernadette on Monday, 26 May 2008 - 12:57 am
spot on!!!
#10 by rainbowseahorse on Tuesday, 27 May 2008 - 3:31 pm
I wish everybody would stop addressing Sabah’s problem as the “illegal immigrant” issue because the problem is NOT the illegal immigrants but the problem of IMPORTED BUMIPUTRAS. Illegal immigrants are those living & working in Sabah without proper documents, and this problem is and will always be a major problem in Sabah given the vastness and very porous borders.
The main focus which needs urgent attention is the problem of economic immigrants who, by virtue of their religion of Islam, automatically becomes “BUMIPUTRA” when they were issued IC & MyKad by unscrupulous individuals for monetary and political gains. By being classified as Bumiputras, these IMPORTED BUMIPUTRAS enjoyed all the BENEFITS accorded to any BUMIPUTRAS (as provided for by the Malaysian constitution) making them a potent force to reckon with among the real & original Sabah Bumiputras.
Another problem that pops up with these IMPORTED BUMIPUTRAS comes in the form of “HARD CORE POOR” which the Malaysian government endeavored to eradicate. This takes away a large portion of the allocated money from the more deserving local Sabahan Hardcore poor.
Understandably, the none-Bumiputras races in Sabah (notably the Chinese & Indians), who might be third generations or longer Sabahans, are EXTREMELY resentful and find it VERY DIFFICULT to accept the fact that these new economic immigrants have been accorded BUMIPUTRASHIP status by the Government. Effectively, these “IMPORTED BUMIPUTRAS” have became not only superior citizenship status over the none Bumiputras of Sabah, but also have the power to compete with the original & real Bumiputras in Sabah in all aspects of business which have been RESERVED for BUMIPUTRAS. The children of these “IMPORTED BUMIPUTRAS” completes with original Sabah Bumiputras for placements in schools, government scholarships, and eventually in the work place. Of course, government services such as medical facilities, social welfares, etc. are being utilized by these “IMPORTED BUMIPUTRAS” and their families.
So, the URGENT problem in Sabah is NOT THE ILLEGAL immigrants, but the “IMPORTED BUMIPUTRAS”.