KOTA KINABALU: A probe will be conducted to find out if a board member in the government-linked company Sawit Kinabalu is the same person who claimed that he had entered Malaysia and obtained his citizenship via dubious means in the 1980s, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       Acknowledging that he had only just heard about the matter via social media platforms, the Chief Minister said they would investigate the matter.

       "I have no further details yet but the name mentioned is of the person we have appointed to Sawit Kinabalu as a board member and he is state MIC chairman, a Barisan Nasional member,” he said during a press conference after an event in the city on Tuesday (Jan 18).

       “I found out through social media so I will check,” he said, adding that appropriate action would follow after the probe.

       Recently, some activists in Sabah had questioned the identity of Sabah MIC chief Peer Mohamad Kadir, who allegedly shares the same name as an individual from India entering the state in 1984.

       They are calling for the state government to clarify this matter after claims surfaced over his acquiring the Malaysian identity card via dubious means at the time.

       The person with this name had made the confession in 2013 during the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah.

       Peer did not comment on the matter when asked about it several days ago.