Kota kinabalu: Over 113,000 foreigners working in Sabah's plantation sector have been registered in a centralised digital data system, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. This initiative, aimed at real-time monitoring and management of foreigners in the region, is part of the state government's efforts to streamline the process.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin Nasution clarified that this digital data collection activity is not related to citizenship or permanent residency issues. He made these remarks following his participation in the Main Committee for the Management of Foreigners in Sabah (JKPWAS-INDUK) Meeting and the Sabah Special Committee on Citizenship Status (JKKSK) Meeting, which were chaired by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at Menara Kinabalu.

The data collection is set to expand beyond the plantation sector to include agriculture, manufacturing, production, and mining. A moratorium on enforcement will be imposed to allow foreign workers to register under the digital system without facing legal repercussions, Saifuddin Nasution noted. This period will provide space for registration, ensuring no conflict between enforcement and data collection efforts.

The meetings also covered initiatives for the Palauh or Bajau Laut community, aiming to integrate them into land-based work such as the plantation sector. While often perceived as marginalized, the state government is actively designing programs to assist this community.

In terms of citizenship status, the minister highlighted that 1,247 applications out of over 2,000 submitted between 2021 and the previous year have been approved. These decisions were made under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution, which addresses citizenship applications in special circumstances, providing a legal framework for obtaining Malaysian citizenship.