Sarawak Report editor remains as persona non grata in Sarawak

Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg

KUCHING, May 23: Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown is still barred from entering Sarawak.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said Rewcastle-Brown is still in the list of ‘barred persons’.

“Her name has and is still on the list since my predecessor’s time. I have not decided on it yet,” Abang Johari said when asked if he will revoke it, when met after the ‘Sumbangsih Kuih Gawai and Raya 2018’ event today.

Rewcastle-Brown was first barred from entering the country by the former Barisan Nasional government.

The Sarawak-born Rewcastle-Brown was accused of conspiring with Malaysia’s then opposition lawmakers to publish forged documents on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) to sabotage former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

A warrant of arrest was issued against her in 2015 for offences under Section 124B and 124I of the Penal code.

Section 124B covers alleged involvement in activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy while Section 124I is for disseminating false reports.

Rewcastle-Brown arrived in Malaysia on May 18, after Pakatan Harapan won in the recent 14th general election and has since given interviews to a number of Malaysian news outlets and programmes. — DayakDaily