Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
From Our Readers
Stop embarrassing the country, lift ban on HK duo

It is appalling to learn that Malaysian immigration is deporting a Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker, Leung Kwok-hung , after he touched down at KLIA yesterday. The Hong Kong legislative council member was detained and deported back to Hong Kong without any valid reason.

A few days ago, the Malaysian Immigration deported another pro-democracy student activist from Hong Kong, Joshua Wong . Both Leung and Wong were scheduled to speak in several forums in commemoration of the 26th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square tragedy.

The inspector-general of police, Khalid Abu Bakar, told the press that the deportation of Joshua Wong earlier was a measure to prevent his “anti-China” speeches to jeopardise the ties between Malaysia and China.

I view the recent development with grave concern. The deportation of the two Hong Kong activists is totally uncalled for, unwarranted, and a gross violation of human rights. If today we are barring someone for his ‘anti-China’ speech, are we going to do the same to those who deliver ‘anti-US’, ‘anti-Japan’, ‘anti-India’ or ‘anti-Zimbabwe’ speeches in the future, too?

This is the first time our enforcement agencies are barring people from entering the country on the basis of being a dissident in another country. Since when did someone’s political affiliation in his home country become a reason to bar him from entering Malaysia? Is Malaysia a sovereign country, or a vassal state submitting to some suzerain powers?

Besides, the excuse of allowing these activists into Malaysia will “jeopardise the ties between Malaysia and China” does not hold water at all. In fact, Malaysia signing a new strategic partnership with Japan few days ago will sour the Sino-Malaysian relationship even more than allowing the duo to enter the country. This double standard has shown the utmost hypocrisy and dishonesty in Malaysian foreign policies.

Malaysia is the first country that bans Hong Kong activists for their ‘anti-China’ stance. This has made our country the laughing stock of the democracy world.

Therefore, I urge the government of Malaysia to stop embarrassing the country by lifting the ban on the Hong Kong duo. The Internal Security Minister, Zahid Hamidi, should also issue a public apology and ensure that a similar farce will not happen again in the future.


 

CHANG LIH KANG is the PKR state assemblyperson for Teja, Perak.

ADS