BERSIH Sabah releases draft TOR for RCI

Kota Kinabalu: The call for the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the grant of Malaysian citizenship to migrants and the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah has been reiterated by BERSIH Sabah, who has released a draft terms of reference (TOR) today.

BERSIH Sabah calls for the Commission to publicly produce its interim findings on or before 30 June 2012 or before the 13th General Elections.

“The call for RCI is urgent, particularly for interim findings to be made public before the 13th General Elections as to ensure that there are no phantom or illegal voters sabotaging a free and fair election for Sabah,” says Anne Lasimbang, Director of PACOS (Partners of Communities Organisations).

Wong Tack, Chairperson of Himpunan Hijau further echoes the call, "The RCI is the most pressing issue for Sabah. People from all sides of the divide have expressed their greatest desire to see the RCI implemented before GE13, for without it, election will not be fair and there will not be a future for Sabah."

"Unfortunately, the federal regime has not shown the slightest willingness to carry out the peoples' wishes. Therefore, it is time not to come on these people who merely provide lip service. The resolution of this issue now lies in the hands of the people."

Wong Tack further urges Sabahans to come out on April 28th at Padang Merdeka, "to demonstrate their strongest anger on this issue".

BERSIH Sabah also welcomes Parti Bersatu Sabah’s (PBS) recent call for RCI before the General Election polls, and invites all supporting parties for RCI to join the nation-wide sit-in on April 28th, 2pm onwards at the Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu.



Notes: Attached is the proposed TOR for the RCI, and photo of BERSIH Sabah committee & reps of endorsing organisations at Padang Merdeka

BERSIH Sabah is an independent non-partisan movement based in Sabah for free & fair elections. Local organisations, political parties and movements who have endorsed BERSIH Sabah include the indigenous NGO, PACOS (Partners of Communities Organisations), Himpunan Hijau, GAMIS (Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia), USDA (United Sabah Dusun Association), Tindak Malaysia, TABAH, PKR, STAR-Sabah, SAPP, DAP, PAS.