The recent spate of opposition politicians being barred from Sarawak is not legal, said former Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.
"From my recollection of the relevant laws, a person cannot be banned from entering Sarawak if he or she is going there for a political purpose.
"In my view, the recent spate of banning politicians is not legal," she told Malaysiakini when contacted today.
This, she said, is especially in light of the upcoming Sarawak elections, adding the banning is also not "proper or morally right".
"It reeks of persecution, and shows a nervousness about the opposition," she added.
The latest opposition politician to be barred from entering Sarawak is DAP's assistant national publicity secretary last night, while the creator of the DAP mascot and its Sarawak campaign materials was also barred entry this morning.
The latest opposition politician to be barred from entering Sarawak is DAP's assistant national publicity secretary Teo Nie Ching last night, while the creator of the Ubah DAP mascot and key member of the party's campaign machinery Ooi Leng Hang was also barred entry this morning.
Explain rationale for bans, Sarawak gov't told
Ambiga urged the Sarawak state government to explain its rationale for the bans, adding that they are unfair to the people of Sarawak as well.
The people of Sarawak are entitled to a wide range of views before they vote in the elections, she explained.
“What is (Sarawak Chief Minister) Adenan (Satem) afraid of?
“I hear he is hugely popular so these unprecedented acts don’t make sense at all,” she said.
Previously, PKR vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin had also been denied entry into the state, although he managed to talk his way into being allowed in eventually.
Other PKR leaders who have been barred from Sarawak include PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar, Tian Chua and Rafizi Ramli, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, PKR election director Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Subang MP R Sivarasa.
DAP’s Petaling Jaya MP Tony Pua and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok were also banned from Sarawak.
Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu was also barred from entering Sarawak in late March.
Sarawak exercises autonomy over immigration matters under the Malaysian agreement but is not allowed to bar people from entering the state for political activities.
Some of those deported are in the midst of mounting a legal challenge.
Adenan had announced that the state assembly will be dissolved on April 11 to pave the way for an election. -Mkini
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