KOTA KINABALU: There has been a surge in the number of non-citizens in Sabah possessing statutory declarations (SD) to support their applications for identity documents, claims Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
The Sabah Chief Minister I said he has been informed of this uptick of non-citizens carrying SDs issued by Sabah commissioners for oaths.
“It has come to my attention that there has been a surge in statutory declarations (SDs) signed by non-citizens in Sabah, specifically aimed at supporting applications for identification documents,” he said in a statement yesterday.
“The contents of these SDs show that non-citizens are declaring their residence in Sabah and affirming their lawful conduct, presumably to facilitate their documentation process.”
Kitingan said this is worrying and could lead to unintended legal consequences.
“Misuse of these documents poses a real risk, potentially impacting Sabah’s legal and electoral integrity.
“As the deputy chief minister and president of STAR Sabah, I am issuing a firm reminder and a stern warning to all commissioners for oaths, magistrates and relevant authorities to exercise utmost caution when handling such declarations,” said Kitingan.
Commissioners for oaths are supposed to uphold the integrity of the legal system, he said, adding that they must always ensure that their actions do not help non-citizens gain identification documents through irregular means.
He said every SD in an identification or citizenship application must undergo rigorous assessment and that officials must remain vigilant to prevent any misuse of these documents.
“Sabah’s sovereignty, the integrity of its electoral system and the rights of genuine citizens are paramount.
“They must be protected against any form of manipulation or misuse of legal processes,” Kitingan stressed.
