Wan Azizah hits the campaign trail in Sibu

PKR president allowed entry for election campaign but must leave Sarawak two days before polling.

PETALING JAYA: Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, president of PKR, was allowed entry into Sarawak last night, after she sent a written appeal to Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem.

An aide said Wan Azizah arrived at Sibu airport last night but must leave by May 5, two days before polling day.

Wan Azizah began campaigning for the party, is making a major effort to increase its standing in the state assembly but is locked in a battle against opposition partner the DAP in six seats.

PKR and its Sarawak chairman Baru Bian have received a tongue-lashing from a variety of DAP leaders for not making way in the disputed seats. The DAP, which made major gains in urban seats in 2011, is pushing into rural and Dayak-majority seats to bolster its hopes of taking power in the state at the next state elections in 2021.

Wan Azizah was expected to spend Sunday visiting several constituencies around Sibu before returning to Kuala Lumpur this evening.

Many opposition leaders and activists have been denied entry to Sarawak for the election campaign on orders from the chief minister, who has said he wanted to keep out “salacious elements” for the sake of Sarawak’s racial and religious harmony.

The state has autonomous powers over Immigration, meant to prevent an influx of settlers and workers from the more developed states of the peninsula.