Filipinos holding Permanent Residence (PR) status here told the RCI panel they no longer intend to return to their home country.
Jamil Manap, 64, from Pulau Pengutaraan, Philippines, who came to Sabah in 1978 and Mat Yusay Bingkai who arrived in 1972 from Tawi-Tawi, both have relatives already here.
Both also testified that they came to Sabah to flee the Moro and Marcos conflict in southern Philippines. Jamil said he landed in Sabah after jumping off a kumpit (cargo boat) near Kudat and swam ashore to Kg Baru Baru.
The boat was carrying dried coconuts from the Philippines heading to Labuan.
"I didn't bring any document, I ran away from there because I was afraid of the conflict É I did not support anybody so I ran," said Jamil.
From Kudat, he went to the Telipok Resettlement Scheme where he stayed with an Imam and began working as a construction labourer for 10 years using only a work pass as his identification document.
In 1999, he managed to apply for the IMM13 before applying for the entry pass from the Immigration Department in 2002 and eight years later obtained the MyPR (red IC).
"I am thankful that now I would not have to worry (about being arrested) anymore," he said, adding that his wife and his eldest child were also holding MyPR while his second child is still using the IMM13 document.
He also said he was comfortable living in Telipok.
"I don't want to go back to the Philippines," he said when asked if he had any intention to go back.
Jamil's command of Bahasa Melayu was still below par which was evident when he answered a question by Conducting Officer Jamil Aripin if he still has any "saudara mara" (relatives) in the Philippines.
"Marah? Tidak, saya tidak marah Filipin (angry? No I am not angry with the Philippines Government)".
When told the question was whether he had anymore relatives like brothers, sisters, parents or grandparents, he answered "yes there is one."
Before Jamil was released as witness, lawyer Ansari Abdullah who was representing Dr Chong Eng Leong asked if he knew many people from the Philippines who came to Sabah were staying in the Telipok Resettlement Scheme and whether some of the people there could vote.
"Yes (most are Filipinos) and they could be (able to vote)," he answered.
For Mat Yusay, 59, he obtained his MyPR in 2004 and so have all his six children who are currently working in factories in Peninsular Malaysia.
He had been staying in Lok Urai, Pulau Gaya, ever since he arrived in Sabah in 1972.
He also told the RCI panel that most of the people staying in Lok Urai now apart from locals were holders of MyPR, IMM13 and some even still holding the Kad Burung-Burung as well as illegal immigrants.
He chose to stay in Lok Urai because most of his relatives were there who had been staying there since colonial time.
"I am already old and most of my relatives are here," he said when asked if he has intentions to return to his home country.
When asked by RCI Chairman, Tan Sri Steve Shim, he said he came to Sabah in a boat with 30 others but he did not know the whereabouts of these people now.
He told Shim they landed at Sandakan and did not face any problem entering Sabah.
Sources: Daily Express
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