Datuk Henrynus Amin delivering his policy speech during ANAK NEGERI’s delegates general meeting on Sunday.
The indigenous native population feels profoundly threatened by the possibility of becoming a minority in their own homeland.
KOTA KINABALU : – Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (ANAK NEGERI) issued a dire warning about the alarming demographic shift in Sabah, highlighting the critical threat it poses to the state’s security and sovereignty.
“We cannot, and will not, stand idly by while the very fabric of our homeland is systematically unraveled,” said the party’s president Datuk Henrynus Amin in a statement today.
The Alarming Numbers: A State in Peril
The presence of one million foreign nationals from neighboring countries has drastically altered Sabah’s political demography.
This is a severe and undeniable threat. If left unaddressed, within the next decade, the foreign population—which now accounts for almost 30% of Sabah’s total inhabitants—could tragically exceed 50%.
Recent statistics paint a chilling picture: the foreign population was 800,000 in 2020.
Within a short span of four years, by 2024, this number has exploded to more than one million—an increase of almost 250,000 people.
This rapid escalation is not accidental; it’s a calculated and deliberate movement that began in the 1970s.
Henrynus Amin stated in his recent policy speech that as many as 600,000 individuals may have become citizens through dubious means, such as the infamous Projek IC scheme.
This claim is based on a comparative analysis of population growth rates between Sabah and Sarawak.
In 1960, their combined population was approximately one million (Sabah: 400,000; Sarawak: 600,000).
By 2020, while Sarawak’s population rose to 2.4 million, aligning with its historical proportion, Sabah’s population surged to 2.6 million—an excess of 600,000 compared to the expected 2 million.
This stark discrepancy demands an answer: where did these additional citizens come from?
The chilling cry, “Sabah Kita Punya” (“Sabah Is Ours”), openly voiced by some of these foreign nationals, is not a mere slogan; it’s a veiled, yet evident, intention.
It signifies a profound belief among them that Sabah rightfully belongs to them.
The intent to seize land and power from the indigenous people of Sabah is not an assumption, but a stark reality—an undeniable political fact.
Over the past 50 years, Sabah has been inundated, subtly transforming to resemble a neighboring country, with several districts already hosting more foreign residents than local citizens.
The Betrayal of Trust: A Legacy of Inaction
The indigenous native population feels profoundly threatened by the possibility of becoming a minority in their own homeland.
This drastic political demographic change also indirectly imperils Sabah’s sovereignty within the Malaysian Federation, particularly in the context of the Sulu Sultanate’s historical claims to Sabah.
Parti ANAK NEGERI heavily criticizes both PBS and STAR for their conspicuous silence and inaction on the critical issue of illegal immigration and the shifting political demography of our state.
PBS has relied on past achievements, such as writing memorandums, but has done absolutely nothing concrete to address the problem.
Even the idea of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants and fake ICs was conceived and implemented by Datuk Henrynus Amin during his time as Secretary General of PBS.
Yet, after the RCI’s findings were released, PBS remained pathetically quiet, choosing to remain silent on the issue.
This inaction directly led to Henrynus Amin’s departure from the party.
Similarly, STAR and Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan are guilty of a blatant double standard.
STAR spearheaded the campaign to stop the implementation of the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) by the then-Warisan Government.
Yet, once in power, STAR now champions the registration and issuance of “Kad Warga Asing” (Foreigners Identity Cards) to enable foreigners to reside and work in Sabah without valid travel documents from their countries of origin.
The PSS and Kad Warga Asing were both conceived and advocated by the Ministry of Home Affairs. In 2022, STAR, then a component of Perikatan Nasional, shamefully swallowed their own words by consenting to the registration and issuance of these foreigners’ identity cards.
Unbeknownst to the people of Sabah, the “Kad Warga Asing,” which is renewable, can be used as a basis to apply for permanent residency or even citizenship, as continuous stay in Malaysia for 10 years is a key criterion.
This dangerous loophole allows illegal immigrants to bypass existing immigration laws.
No political party in Sabah genuinely speaks of the looming threat of the political demographic shift.
While Parti ANAK NEGERI has consistently voiced concerns about “Sabah IC,” PBS and STAR in recent years are conspicuously silent.
PBS has had 40 years, and STAR 30 years, to act. Yet, they did nothing.
They are a failed formula that no longer deserves the support of the people of Sabah.
They have become a liability, not an asset, and they are now asking for five more years of failure and misery for the people of Sabah.
Their loyalty lies with GRS, a coalition that shows no interest in addressing the shifting political demography of the state.
A Path Forward: Parti ANAK NEGERI’s Strategic Action Plan
For 2025, Parti ANAK NEGERI’s primary focus will be to urgently address this critical political demographic change, find an immediate solution to the issue of the one million foreign nationals, and staunchly defend Sabah’s rightful position within Malaysia.
Parti ANAK NEGERI offers 7 strategic steps, leveraging state laws to mitigate the effects of the massive foreign population and the existence of fake ICs.
“Our upcoming election manifesto will feature crucial amendments to seven key laws, designed to address the pervasive issues of undocumented foreign presence and the proliferation of fraudulent identity cards, Henrynus stressed.
He added, These legislative proposals aim to strengthen Sabah’s sovereignty, protect the rights of its indigenous people, and enhance the security of our borders.
Proposed Legislation: A Path Forward
* Amendments to the Interpretation Ordinance (Definition of Native) 1952 (Sabah Cap 64): This amendment will clearly define the ethnic groups recognized as Native and clarify their eligibility criteria. This measure will prevent foreign nationals from impersonating Natives to unlawfully enjoy Native rights and privileges.
* Amendments to the Local Government Ordinance 1962: We propose introducing district population registration and requiring verification for business licenses. This will serve as a crucial filter to identify and prevent the misuse of fraudulent MyKad (identity cards).
* Amendments to the Sabah Land Ordinance (Cap 68): This amendment will tighten regulations concerning customary and Native land transactions involving non-Natives and foreign nationals. It will mandate a referral to the District Officer for all such transactions and for the operation of companies on Native land, ensuring proper oversight and protection of Native land rights.
* Amendments to the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Cap 67): This will obligate employers to report details of foreign workers and their immigration status to the Chief Minister’s Department for comprehensive monitoring and enforcement.
* Amendments to the Sabah Water Resources Ordinance 1998 and the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024 (Sabah): These amendments will regulate the supply of water and electricity to the homes of undocumented foreign nationals. Applicants will be required to verify their citizenship or provide valid documentation to receive these essential services.
* Amendments to the Sabah Parks Enactment 1984 and the Forestry Enactment 1968: The purpose of these amendments is to establish armed border enforcement teams in the waters and islands belonging to Sabah Parks, and armed Forestry enforcement teams on Forest Reserves along Sabah’s land borders. These officers will serve as border monitoring or intelligence teams, supplementing existing police and army roles.
* Sabah State Assembly Motion on Immigration Director: The Sabah State Assembly has approved a motion to ensure that the Director-General of Immigration Sabah must be a Sabah State Government Officer, appointed by the Sabah Public Service Commission and seconded to the Federal Government Services for the Sabah Immigration Department.
Henrynus Amin said Parti ANAK NEGERI seeks the mandate from voters in the coming State General Election to advocate for and implement the above legislative acts.
He urges voters to prioritize the security of the state and the future well-being of their children.
“We can talk about development, but what is the use of economic achievement if you lose your country to foreigners and become a minority and beggars in your own homeland?” he questioned.
“Our elected state assemblymen will join the next state government and be the advocate for these 7 proposed legislative actions.”
Parti ANAK NEGERI is committed to protecting Sabah’s future. The time for inaction is over. Will you stand with us to defend our Homeland.
