Academic wants CM to explain after being banned from entering Sarawak

Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) member Wong Chin Huat remains barred from entering Sarawak and will return to Kuala Lumpur tonight.

In a statement this evening, Wong (photo) urged the Sarawak chief minister Abang Johari Openg to explain the ban when he was granted entry just three months ago.

“I was permitted entry to Sarawak from Aug 25 to 30, 2019 to participate in programmes organised and co-organised by the ERC.

“The state government must explain to the public what has changed over the span of three months or what transpired during the Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) and Delimitation workshop which makes my entry this time threatening.

“I respectfully invite Chief Minister Abang Johari [...] to offer the Sarawak and Malaysia public the justification for the denial of my entry yesterday,” he said.

Under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Sarawak has autonomy over its borders and immigration affairs.

Wong disclosed that the “notice of refusal of entry” notice served on him did not explicitly state a reason except that he had been denied passage into the state under Section 65(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The section gives powers to east Malaysian states to require the state immigration director to withhold permits to specific people from entering the state.

The Sunway University political scientist flew into Kuching yesterday afternoon to hold a workshop on electoral system reform before he was detained by immigration personnel at the airport.

He said he was initially denied medical attention despite suffering headache.

He denied reported claims that he had refused the Sarawak Immigration Department’s offer of medicine and a “one-day pass” to receive hospital treatment.

“These are utter lies to paint the victim of their negligence and inhumane treatment as self-inflicting his medical emergency,” Wong said.

He maintained that he was only allowed access to a doctor and a hospital following intervention by Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (above) and Public Works Minister Baru Bian.

According to Wong, his blood pressure had spiked to 231/114 mmHg when examined by the doctor. The healthy blood pressure range is between 90/60 mmHg and 120/70 mmHg.

No more bans on activists - Bersih

Meanwhile, electoral reform NGO Bersih criticised the Sarawak state government for banning Wong despite the fact the latter was on official government business.

The ERC is a body parked under the Prime Minister’s Department.

“Bersih calls on the Sarawak state government to review the ban list and lift all bans on politicians and social activists as they violate the letter and spirit of the Immigration Act and the MA63.

“Not doing so would mean an abuse of state power for narrow political gains,” the group’s steering committee said in a statement this evening.

Earlier this week, Bersih, Wong and his NGO Engage had organised a similar electoral system workshop in Kuala Lumpur.

It featured experts from Germany, New Zealand and the United States talking about the merits of the MMP electoral system. - Mkini