KOTA KINABALU, JULY 22 — The Sabah State Government wants to ensure that the implementation of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency Act 2024 (Act 860) does not erode the state’s immigration autonomy, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (DUN) was told today.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the stance had been conveyed through an official letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, including to maintain the Sabah Malaysian Immigration Department as the agency controlling the state’s entry points.
He said the state government also believes that the issuance of Not-To-Land (NTL) notices should remain under the jurisdiction of the department.
He said that although the act is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, the state government’s stance is aimed at ensuring that its implementation by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) does not affect the state’s autonomy rights as enshrined in Article V of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“The state government insists that the immigration powers for Sabah as enshrined in Article V of the 1963 Act are non-negotiable,” he said when answering an oral question from Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (GRS-Tamparuli) who wanted to know the reason for the state government delaying the implementation of the act in the state.
Joniston said the state government’s stance was also important to ensure that the constitutional guarantees of protection regarding Sabah’s position were always maintained.
“The state government emphasizes that there should be no erosion of the special rights and autonomous powers of Sabah immigration and the State Authority,” he said.
On May 13, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the state government had decided to suspend the policy and implementation of the act until it received assurances that there would be no erosion of the special rights and autonomy of the state’s immigration and Sabah authorities.
Hajiji said Sabah and Sarawak’s immigration autonomy is non-negotiable because the implementation of the establishment of Malaysia under MA63 is subject to the enactment of immigration autonomy for the two states.
— BERNAMA
