KOTA KINABALU: The state government will issue Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) to better manage foreign nationals residing in the state, starting June 1 next year.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the move would ensure more effective enforcement due to the availability of centralised and standardiased data of immigrants.
"The government is concerned with various documents and passes issued by the Federal and state government for immigrants in Sabah.
"Documents such as IMM13, Burung Burung and Census certificate hold by immigrants complicate enforcement, especially on the records of their presence in Sabah.
"The PSS, which will be issued by state Immigration Department, will have biometric, fingerprints and profile picture," he said, adding that the card will have a fee of RM120 and renewable every three years.
Muhyiddin was speaking to reporters after chairing the Committee on the Management of Foreign Nationals meeting, here, today.
Also present was Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Muhyiddin added that it is estimated that there are more than 600,000 document holders of IMM13, Kad Burung Burung and Census certificates in the state.
(Immigration Department issued IMM13 to refugees who came into Sabah in the 1970s; Kad Burung Burung is a document given during Sabah People's United Front (Berjaya) government; Special Federal Task Force issued the Census certificate.)
"We are also giving focus to curb those who use fake documents to go through points of entry especially at the airport in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau.
"The enhancement will be on technology and improvement of the screening facility," he said, adding that the upgrade was crucial due to high inflow of people into the state.
On enforcement against illegal immigrants in the state, Muhyiddin said a total of 587,367 had been deported to their country of origin between 1990 and Sept 4 this year.
Between Jan and Sept 4 this year, 8,342 people were deported, he added.