Local takes over as NRD director in Sabah

The Star

KOTA KINABALU: A Sabahan has taken over as director of the state National Registration Department amid controversy over local bumiputras being turned into permanent residents.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said deputy state Immigration director Datuk Abdul Jaffear Henry has taken over as Sabah NRD director with effect from Oct 6.

Jaffear, a local born from Papar, takes over from Abdul Rahmand Mohd Nor, Syed Hamid told a news conference here Thursday to explain various issues of permanent residence and citizenship that kicked off a political storm over the past few weeks.

The controversy was triggered when Parti Upko highlighted the plight of local Sino-Kadazan woman Yong Lee Hua @Piang Lin, 78, who lost her MyKad but was given a permanent resident Malaysian identity card when she applied for a replacement.

On Thursday, Yong got back her replacement MyKad that she lost some time in February last year.