A FORMER Moro combatant told the Royal Commission of Inquiry yesterday that he left southern Philippines with six family members in a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) speed boat to seek help in Sabah in 1975.
Abdul Khalil Alamir, 59, also known as "Commander Janggut" was born on April 3, 1954, in Basilan.
He was the Basilan commander when he fled the civil war.
"We left because we ran out of ammunition and food. We arrived on Pulau Jampiran near Sandakan to seek help," he said, adding that the other six members were also MNLF commanders.
Khalil said they did not return as they were working as construction workers during their stay.
He obtained IMM13, a temporary social visit pass issued specifically to refugees, from the Immigration Department in Semporna in 1980.
He said that in 1993 he settled in a refugee village known as Kampung Minsupala in Keningau and was appointed as village head since then.
He applied for permanent resident status in 2009 and it was approved.
To a question whether he planned to apply for citizenship, he said the registration officer told him he could only do so in 2017.
"I want to be a Malaysian citizen and I have no intention to return and stay in Basilan."
The RCI, which entered its fifth day, heard five witnesses testifying how they entered the country, particularly Sabah, and obtained Malaysian identity documents.
Mohammed Using, 48, from Daggar, Pakistan, told the inquiry that he had used a Pakistan passport and flew to Tawau from Kuala Lumpur in 1987.
He was subsequently issued an identity card.
When his statement was read by conducting officer Jamil Aripin to refresh his memory, Mohammed agreed that one of the conditions to get the identity card was to stay in Sabah and vote.
He said that he had gone to the registration office in Tawau where he was assisted in filling up an application form before receiving a temporary identity receipt.
He obtained his blue identity card in 1989 while his Pakistan passport was handed over to the department.
He registered as a voter and had voted about five times in Papar.
He said that Tawau was stated as his place of birth on his identity card and he had no problem applying for a Malaysian passport.
He had returned to Pakistan several times using the document.
So far 29 people have testified in the five-day hearing which started on Monday.
Proceedings continue on Jan 28.
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