By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 6: Leaders from Peninsular Malaysia, particularly those from political parties, need not come to Sarawak to campaign in the upcoming 13th Sarawak Election, says Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said the State election should be left to local political parties and the people of Sarawak to determine, without unnecessary involvement from political leaders outside the State.
“Leave us alone. However, that does not mean I am saying they are completely prohibited from coming here to campaign. We practise parliamentary democracy, and they are entitled to come to Sarawak. But it would be ‘sweeter’ if they did not,” he said during a press conference at his office here today, following the Election Commission’s (EC) announcement of the key dates for the Sarawak Election.
Abdul Karim pointed out that GPS did not send teams to campaign for or support political parties during state elections in Peninsular Malaysia, including in Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.
“Likewise, we should allow the people of Sarawak to make their own decisions,” he said.
He added that candidates contesting in Sarawak would ultimately be responsible for looking after the State’s interests, making it appropriate for the election to be determined by Sarawakians themselves.
“We do not want people coming here to campaign against us now, only to seek our support later during the parliamentary election when they need us to form the federal government,” he said.
On entry restrictions, Abdul Karim said Sarawak would continue to bar certain individuals from entering the State, including not only political figures but also non-political personalities who had been blacklisted.
He stressed that while Sarawak practised parliamentary democracy and did not restrict people from travelling to the State generally, certain individuals would remain prohibited from entering because of their views and public statements.
“People are free to travel here, but there are certain individuals whom we cannot accept because of their somewhat toxic outlook. We know who these individuals are, based on the speeches they make and the views they express,” he said.
He explained that the blacklist included politicians as well as non-political figures, including certain preachers whose extremist beliefs were deemed incompatible with Sarawak’s multiracial society and the well-being of its people.
“We will continue to maintain these restrictions,” he said. — DayakDaily
