PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak government was criticised by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Tian Chua barring three of the party’s lawmakers in Peninsular Malaysia from entering the state after they arrived there yesterday, reports Free Malaysia Today.
Describing the move as “ridiculous and hysterical”, he questioned the rationale for the prohibition, saying the trio – Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian and Kuala Sepetang state assemblywoman Chua Yee Ling – were rightfully representing the interests of the citizens.
“It is abusing the process of immigration. How can we be denied entry just like that? We are representing the people,” he said, stressing that the politicians presented no danger to the state.
“What is the security threat that any of us pose to Sarawak? There is no justification,” he added on Saturday.
He said while Sarawak had autonomy over its immigration, it was to protect the welfare and security of its people, and should not be extended to forestall opposition politicians who had different opinions from the state leadership.
The three had flown to Sarawak on Saturday to participate in the Pink Diamond dinner organised by PKR in Miri.
Zuraida and Hee were denied entry when they landed at 2pm yesterday but Chua was allowed through.
However, Chua’s visit to Sarawak was cut short when state immigration officials later turned up at the dinner to interrupt her speech and pick her up to be deported on the last flight out.
This evening, a Pakatan Harapan rally is scheduled to be held in Kuching, featuring among its speakers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is chairman of PH and PPBM, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and Amanah elections director Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli.
Mahathir is scheduled to deliver his first speech in Sarawak since quitting Umno in 2015 and co-founding PPBM in September last year.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is also a PKR vice-president, tweeted today to indicate that she may not be going to Sarawak as planned.
Saying that she would likely be barred from entering the state, she added that her spirit and affection would be with the opposition activists in Sarawak.
