PKR Wanita chief barred from entering Sarawak

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin and the six potential party candidates for the coming Sarawak elections at the Kuching International Airport after she was barred from entering the state. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Ng Ai Fern, January 29, 2016.

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin became the latest opposition leader to be barred from entering Sarawak when she was stopped by Immigration officers at the Kuching International Airport this afternoon.

Immigration officers told her that she was not allowed into the state after checking her status with the chief minister's office.

No reasons were given.

However, PKR Wanita deputy chief Haniza Talha, who was travelling with Zuraida, was allowed to enter to enter.

Zuraida was in Kuching today to meet six potential PKR women candidates for the coming Sarawak elections.

But the ban on Zuraida did not stop her from meeting the six – Voon Shiak Ni, Nurhanim Moksen, Norina Utot, Elia Bit, Athina Sim and Jamilah Baharuddin.

Suspecting that the woman leader might be barred from entering the state, the six bought flight tickets so that they could meet her at the airport's departure lounge.

Zuraida held a meeting with the six inside the airport and is now waiting to board the next flight out of the state.

She had earlier arrived on AirAsia flight at 11.20am.

Zuraida was previously denied entry in March 2014 during the Balingian by-election campaign period.

A month later, the ban was lifted and she was allowed to enter the state. It is not known when this new ban came into force.

MORE TO COME

- TMI