Four opposition assemblymen in Sabah have raised concerns over a sharp increase in the number of non-citizens living in Kota Kinabalu, citing official data showing a rise of more than 58%.
The assemblymen from Parti Warisan said statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia show the non-citizen population in the state capital increased from 79,100 in 2021 to 125,400 as of December 2025.
Loi Kok Liang of Api-Api, Samuel Wong of Luyang, Edna Majimbun of Inanam, and Chin Teck Ming of Kapayan said the figures point to a steady upward trend. The number stood at 79,100 in 2022, rose to 81,700 in 2023, then climbed sharply to 121,800 in 2024.
They said the increase contradicts the Sabah state government’s policy, announced in 2020, to reduce the number of non-citizens in the state.
Kota Kinabalu now has the third-highest non-citizen population in Sabah. Sandakan ranks highest with 195,100, followed by Tawau with 142,900.
Non-citizens make up 20.9% of Kota Kinabalu’s estimated population of 600,000, which is roughly one in five residents.
The assemblymen also pointed to statewide figures showing Sabah’s total non-citizen population has reached 1,043,200.
In a joint statement reported by the Daily Express, they called on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to explain why the numbers continue to rise despite repeated commitments to address the issue.
The presence of large non-citizen communities in Sabah has long been a sensitive political issue. Many are migrants or descendants from neighbouring countries, and the topic has shaped debates around immigration control, public services, and demographic change for decades.
National data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia show Sabah has one of the highest proportions of non-citizens among Malaysian states. This is often linked to historical migration patterns and labour demand in sectors such as plantations and construction.
The assemblymen said the Kota Kinabalu figures reflect wider challenges in managing immigration, including the presence of undocumented migrants, and urged greater transparency from state authorities.
Key points highlighted by the assemblymen include the steady rise in non-citizen numbers since 2022, Kota Kinabalu’s position as the third-highest district in Sabah for non-citizen population, and the fact that more than one-fifth of the city’s residents are non-citizens.
They said clearer action is needed to align population management with public expectations as Sabah continues to develop economically.
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