Project IC': Mahathir told not pass the buck

Blaming government servants in the issue of the systematic granting of citizenship to immigrants in Sabah is an irresponsible act.

PAS committee member, Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli said, government servants were just doing their work according the policies set in place by the government and it would be impossible for them to exceed that unless they were given the order by certain parties.

"To me, its impossible to for them to give identification cards to immigrants in Sabah, especially when it involves many.

"We do not government servants to continously be on the receiving end everything something against the law occurs," said the Kuala Krai parliamentarian.

He said this when asked to comment on former premier, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement to the Royal Commission of Inquiry on immigrants in Sabah yesterday.

Tun Mahathir, when testifying yesterday, alleged that “government officers” were responsible or according citizenship and issuing identity cards to ineligible candidates in Sabah, and that "it was not government policy to do so while he was the premier".

Commenting on the issue further, Mohd Hatta said that from Tun Mahathir's statement, it looks as if he wants pass the blame, and government servants should strongly oppose such as act.

When met by journalists today, Tun Mahathir again denied any knowledge regarding 'Project IC' and said that "a Pakatan Rakyat leader" who served as his deputy prime minister had never questioned him about 'Project IC', referring to Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“He was in the government, he knew the government's policy. If that was the government's policy, why didn’t he stop it” asked Mahathir.

In earlier testimonies, two of Mahathir's closest aides - Abdul Aziz Shamsudin and Megat Junid Megat Ayub - were accused by former civil servants having a role in 'Project IC'.

-HD