KOTA KINABALU, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- DAP Sri Tanjung assemblyman Jimmy Wong should not fear facing the special committee set up to investigate allegations on his possession of a native certificate if he has not broken any law, State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said today.

"He is one of the leaders in Sabah and by virtue of being a leader for the people of Sabah, he should set a good example, especially in complying with the relevant law. That's why this special committee is formed to dig out the truth. If he is not wrong, he will emerge stronger in the eyes of the people," he told reporters after opening the Sabah stakeholders' workshop on biosafety here.

Masidi was asked to comment on Wong's statement that the move to set up of the special committee as a waste of time and public funds and that the state government should instead focus the illegal immigrant problem in the state.

On Thursday, state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor said at the state assembly that the ministry would set up a special committee to investigate the allegation made by Sekong assembyman Datuk Samsuddin Yahya.

Apart from the issue of native certificate, Samsuddin also alleged that the DAP representative owned a resort in Semporna and had encroached onto government land when renovating his house.

Masidi said: "Everybody knows that illegal immigrants are the biggest issue in the state and the government is trying its level best to resolve the problem.

"We should not put the blame on the government alone. The local people who employ them illegally as maids or workers should also be responsible.

"I believe that Sabah, without the help of foreign workers, especially from those from the Philippines and Indonesia, will collapse especially in the plantation and construction sectors.

"This is because our own people are reluctant to take up jobs in these sectors...this is a reality. In other words, it is not easy to deal with the illegal immigrant problem," he said.