PBK backs PBB sec-gen for not accepting Palestinian refugees into Sarawak, chides Umno man’s criticism

Voon Lee Shan

KUCHING, Nov 14: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) has voiced its support for Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) secretary-general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi’s stance on rejecting refugees from Palestine from coming to Sarawak.

PBK president Voon Lee Shan then chided Umno Youth leader Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who wanted Nanta to apologise and retract his statement on the issue.

“Political parties from Malaya are not welcome to interfere with the affairs of the people of Sarawak, especially concerning immigration matters and allowing foreigners to seek refuge here.

“There is no reason to accept refugees in Sarawak. We need to take care of our own poor. It is not easy to give food and accommodation to refugees, and we should not accommodate them,” he said in a statement.

Voon said the Sarawak government has control over its immigration under the Immigration Act and should not allow foreigners, including Palestinians and Israelites, who are facing war to seek refuge in Sarawak.

He also regretted that the Umno Youth leader was insensitive to the rights of Sarawakians in protecting their land and wanted him to apologise.

“The demands by Datuk Alexander Nanta not to welcome Palestine refugees to come here is supported by Parti Bumi Kenyalang.

“We had seen enough trouble in Borneo about foreigners and illegal immigrants coming here. They caused lots of trouble to us,” he said, adding that Sarawak is not a ‘dumping ground for ‘troublemakers’.

At the same time, he exerted that PBK condemns the war between Israel and Hamas, saying that in a war, nobody wins, and the only things left are dead bodies and the destruction of properties.

In a news article published in the Malaysia Gazette on Nov 13, Muhamad Akmal criticised Nanta’s statement as displaying a ‘self-important attitude with no concern for the atrocities committed’. — DayakDaily