Tony Pua barred from entering Sabah

DAP lawmaker Tony Pua has been banned from entering Sabah.

Arriving at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 12.50pm for a three-day forum on 1MDB, he was told by an immigration officer that he was not allowed to enter the state.

"Without giving a reason, the officer said the instruction came this morning from the state government," he told Malaysiakini.

"I am now at the Kota Kinabalu Immigration office. I will be deported on the 2pm flight," he said.

Beside attending the 1MDB forum in Keningau, Tenom and Pensiangan, Pua was also scheduled to launch the 'Impian Sabah' voluntary programmes in those three towns.

Pua said the move was politically motivated. 

"This is very unfair and undemocratic, my freedom to travel was disrupted by political elements," he said. 

Pua is the second DAP leader barred from the state after Seputeh MP Teresa Kok. 

Others who have faced ban from the state include PKR vice-president Tian Chua, PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar and Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, as well as National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president S Ambiga. 

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Joseph Kurup had defended the entry bans, arguing opposition lawmakers' appearance may disrupt the unity of Sabah and Sarawak. - Mkini