Sarawak bars PKR leaders' entry on eve of Dr M's visit to state

PKR lawmakers have been barred from entering Sarawak at Miri Airport today, on the eve of the visit of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the Borneo state tomorrow.

Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin was the first to be turned away at the airport, followed by PKR Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian, said Kuala Sepetang assemblyperson Chua Yee Ling.

Chua first posted on her Facebook that Zuraida, the Ampang MP, was blocked by Sarawak Immigration authorities from entering after arriving at approximately 2pm.

“She was going to Miri to attend a PKR dinner tonight, and the Purple Women's Walk tomorrow.

“However she has been denied entry by Sarawak Immigration,” wrote Chua.

According to the official letter she posted, Zuraida is being barred because the state has refused to grant her a pass.

“This serves to notify you that pursuant to section 65(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/6, the State Authority has directed that no pass be issued to you to enter the State of Sarawak, and such pass is required under section 66 (of the same Act) to enter the state,” read the Immigration notice.

Meanwhile, Hee (photo) arrived in Miri at 5pm, and also received the same letter of rejection.

Their denial of entry follows a long history of opposition leaders and civil society activists being denied entry to the state.

More leaders to be blocked?

Chua, when contacted, told Malaysiakini she herself arrived in Miri last night and had no problems going through Immigration.

“Then just now I and Michael Teo were waiting to welcome Zuraida's arrival at Miri Airport, but we received a phone call saying she has been banned from entering,” she said.

She said PKR Wanita vice president Norsham Abu Samah, who accompanied Zuraida, managed to enter.

Zuraida, however, was put on the next flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar - who was supposed to arrive in Miri at 7pm - said she has cancelled her trip following Zuraida's block.

Nurul Izzah told Malaysiakini that a check by the party with the chief minister's office revealed that she was on the ban list.

She will instead be recording a video message for tonight's dinner.

This comes as Mahathir visits the state tomorrow for the first time as an opposition leader.

The long-time Umno president will be speaking as Pakatan Harapan chairperson in Kuching, at a coalition ceramah on its manifesto for the state for the 14th general election.

Also scheduled to attend are DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, Amanah elections director Hatta Ramli, and state Harapan leaders Chong Chieng Jen, Baru Bian and Mohd Fidzuan Zaidi.

Sources in the chief minister's office told Malaysiakini that Mahathir, Lim, and Hatta would be granted entry into Sarawak.- Mkini