KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is firm that foreigners without documents should be sent back to their country of origin.
State Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said that despite the ongoing digital registration of foreigners, the committee had sent clear messages to the immigration department and other enforcement agencies to act against those who violated the law.
Recently, Sabah Immigration Department had crippled a syndicate which was smuggling migrants from Bakungan island, Philippines into Sandakan.
The syndicate was charging a service fee of between RM1,500 and RM2,500 per person.
When asked whether a porous border would affect the registration, Jeffrey, who chaired the exercise, said that it would not as clear instruction had been given to the authorities.
"The digital registration is just basic, and anyone without proper documents will be sent back.
"It will be easier in future. It will be easier to manage them and also for their benefit if they need to go to the hospital and school," he said.
Jeffrey, who is also state Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industy minister, said this after launching the Chinese New Year of Rural Development Corporation (KPD) market at Tanjung Lipat here.
Present was KPD chairman Jannie Lasimbang.
He also said that to ensure a successful registration, the agency behind the exercise should not be collecting money from registrants.
"It is a first time (for Sabah government), (so) why not be confident about it?That's why we asked the agency involved not to charge, so as to not discourage migrants."
Jeffrey also suggested registering the people of Sabah digitally after completing the census on foreigners.
"The exercise is meant for security."