Sabah studying several systems for migrant digital registration: Kitingan

KOTA KINABALU – Sabah is in the midst of testing several firms’ digital registration systems to build the state’s migrant database and issue foreigners’ cards.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said the system currently being worked on would not only cover registration, but also be equipped with a biometric thumbprint, as well as facial and voice recognition capabilities.

“We are testing a few systems to make sure that this digitalisation of registration is not just about registration but also security reasons…we need to test a few systems and determine which one is the best,” he told reporters after attending a forum on labour shortages in Sabah organised by the Institute for Development Studies Sabah here yesterday evening.

“We are working with several systems and several companies…of course, Malaysian firms with German and Chinese technology, because we (Malaysia) do not have technology as good as theirs.”

Earlier in his keynote address, Kitingan said that after the digital registration exercise is completed, the government will undertake an analysis of the statistics gathered, and then formulate the necessary policies and regulations on how to deal with irregular migrants, as well as undocumented and stateless people.

He said the main purpose of the initiative is to resolve issues related to irregular migrants, undocumented individuals, and stateless people, adding that digital registration provides an avenue for them to be hired in Sabah in the future.

“This is one way to reduce labour shortages and cut down dependence on foreign labour in Sabah,” he said.

On another note, Kitingan said the state remains hopeful to have full authority on labour issues, consistent with Sabah’s rights and autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“It is not a new right to be secured, as Sabah has had its own Labour Ordinance before the existence of Malaysia in 1963,” he said.

“Engagements on this matter with federal agencies are ongoing, but we have to solve our own problems, because they (federal government) do not have the same feeling, drive, or passion as we do on matters relating to our own home,” Kitingan added.

He said Sabah could potentially generate RM700 million annually if the state has control over labour. – The Vibes, March 22, 2023