Lahad Datu turning into a no man's land

LAHAD DATU, Apr 15, 2010: Step off the bus here and you may feel you have arrived in another country. Immigrants arriving by sea from the east have become a veritable thorn in the side of the Sabah government.

Pledges to stem the tide of these clandestine arrivals have made little headway. The local authorities are now grappling with the size and impact of these illegal immigrants.

Residents who have lived in the shadow of a virtual takeover of this unhurried agricultural town say these illegals are posing a threat to peace and security.

And their fears were justified by a recent incident last week when local authorities tried to prevent several illegal vendors from continuing their activities.

District Council officers were not only challenged but were also assaulted during an operation to clear the market of illegal hawkers last Monday.

A group of six illegal hawkers not only threatened the enforcement officers, one of them even smashed the windscreen of the vehicle belonging to the enforcement unit.

"There was nothing much that we could do as they outnumbered us, and were also armed with weapons," said an enforcement officer.

He said that the enforcement unit had started to clamp down on undocumented workers who were peddling various goods and items including contraband cigarettes.

He said the council was forced to act after receiving complaints from licensed traders that their businesses had been severely affected.

"It would be no surprise if any visitor who comes here for the first time mistakes this place for a Filipino town," he said.

Unique situation

The growing number of illegal immigrants and hawkers in this east coast town appears to have some tacit approval by powerful people and are being manipulated by vested interests.

"As much as we would like to get rid of them we are helpless as we are not adequately equipped. These people are very aggressive and we are at risk if we push too far," he said.

He said that to resolve the problem, there must be commitment from other government enforcement agencies such as the police, the Royal Custom and Excise Department, the Immigration Department and the National Registration Department.

He suggested that an independent investigation team be set up to probe the root causes of what he claims is a unique situation in the district.

The district council will be holding a meeting at the end of this month with other relevant authorities to discuss the matter, its executive officer, Kusnadi Munawar said.

Police, Custom and Immigration Department's representatives have been invited to attend the meeting.

"We hope to reach an agreement whereby each department sends personnel to be stationed at the council booth near the central market.

"This would go a long way in helping to monitor and respond to any untoward happenings that may occur during operations at the market," he said.

By Queville To
FreeMalaysiaToday