KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the alleged chief protagonist of the notorious “Projek IC” initiative in Sabah, will finally tell his side of the story today at the ongoing Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) hearing in Kota Kinabalu.

According to several news reports, the country’s longest-serving former prime minister arrived at the High Court this morning under heavy guard and is expected to take the RCI stand as the 209th witness.

His long-time arch-nemesis and former deputy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will likely be called to the stand for his testimony next Thursday, Malaysiakini reported.

The RCI was set up on August 11 to investigate claims that illegal aliens in Sabah were awarded citizenship and placed on the country’s electoral roll in an illicit bid to keep the ruling government in power.

When announcing its formation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had also made known the commission’s eight terms of reference, including investigating Sabah’s abnormal spike in population.

The population boom has often been blamed on “Projek IC”, an initiative that was allegedly spearheaded during the early days of Dr Mahathir’s administration to offer citizenships to illegal foreigners residing in the state, in exchange for votes.

It has also been dubbed “Projek M”, with “M” referring to Dr Mahathir’s initials.

For over four decades since the alleged initiative was kicked-off, Sabahans have been lamenting over its problem with the large number of foreigners living in their midst.

Native Sabahans believe that these illegals should be blamed for the state’s economic, social and security problems, and have also complained that their unchecked influx have resulted in a loss of job opportunities for the locals.

At present, nearly 30 per cent of the state’s 3.12 million population are said to be foreigners.

The RCI was initially scheduled to conclude on March 21 but was interrupted by the Sulu invasion of Lahad Datu in Sabah. It subsequently gained royal assent for an extension and will now terminate on September 21.

Upon termination, the RCI panel can choose to seek an extension, on royal assent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Members of the panel include chairman Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong; Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon; former Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Henry Chin Poy Wu; former Sabah state government secretary Datuk Kee Mustafa; and, former Sabah deputy chief minister and former Sabah attorney-general Tan Sri Herman J. Luping.