LABUAN: Sabah has lost its control over immigration rights with the federalisation and relaxation on the entry into Sabah from the Federal Territory of Labuan, said a federal minister.
Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, who is the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), said this was due to the absence of immigration control or checks on passengers at the Menumbok port or Kota Kinabalu ferry terminal.
"Foreigners, wanted criminals and undesirable elements are known to have used this route to escape law," he said in a statement following a dialogue with the Labuan KadazanDusun Cultural Association (Labuan KDCA) and Sabahan residents here.
The session was to discuss whether the Menumbok loophole was an infringement of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) immigration right.
Non-Sabahans, he added, were also abusing the loophole for overstaying in Sabah or illegally working in the state, which contravened with the Immigration laws and the MA63 conditions.
This had led to unfettered entry of undesirable elements and unqualified entry.
"Dialogue participants argued that the Sabah Government should take necessary steps to tighten the law or close the loophole to be in accordance with the immigration law, and at the same time restore the MA63 rights," he said.
Ongkili, who is on a three-day official visit here since Friday, also had met met with the Labuan Corporation and Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines - East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), earlier today.