KOTA KINABALU: Local political analysts are of the view that the Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan)-led state government should have announced its decision to scrap the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) plan much earlier.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) academician Dr Romzi Ationg said it should have been announced during the Kimanis by-election as many raised their concern over the issues surrounding the implementation of PSS.
He opined that the lack of consideration showed the present government was less concerned about the rakyat's voice but more focused on their own political agenda.
"I personally spoke to a Warisan high ranking leader during the by election on what exactly they are going to do about the objection from the people.
"His reply was 'we cannot scrap PSS as it is the decision by the Executive'. (There is) no further explanation. Why did he not ask for the opinion from the people in the first place?" he told New Straits Times today.
Romzi, who is a political researcher, believes if the government maintains such an attitude, the next 15th general election will see Warisan suffering a similar fate as in the Kimanis by-election.
He was commenting on yesterday's announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal that the state cabinet had decided not to go ahead with PSS following strong objection from the people in the recent Kimanis by-election.
Shafie, who is also Warisan president, had said he would meet with the Home Ministry next week to terminate the plan.
While applauding the move by the state government, Romzi said this is what the government should do to minimise the concerns or fears among the people over the possibility of making illegal immigrants new citizens in the state of Sabah.
"Scrapping the PSS must be viewed as an effort to bring back the confidence of the people.
"I personally would love the government to focus more on fulfilling their promises during the 14th general election (GE14), rather than introducing new ideas which are unnecessary such as the PSS.
"There is no need for the introduction of PSS. What we need to do is to make sure the present immigration laws are upheld. We need to get the illegal immigrants out from our land at any cost.
"The view that they (illegal foreigners) are needed for economic reasons is no longer valid," he added.
Another political analyst Dr Lee Kuok Tiung said it was still too early to tell whether the state government's decision to terminate PSS would restore the people's confidence towards Warisan and its leadership.
"As we all know, during the Kimanis by-election, part of the protest votes against the government were actually addressed to the Federal Government's failure to deliver its GE14 election manifesto," said the UMS academician.
Lee opined that the scrapping of the PSS showed the government was desperate following pressure from the people.