Malaysian Election Observation Network coordinator Ong Boon Keong was taken to the Kuching Immigration office today, after being arrested while visiting a village near Kuching.

Ong, also known as 'Organic Ong' for his work on environmental sustainability, told Malaysiakini that he had entered Sarawak last Saturday to conduct post-election monitoring work.

NONE This morning, Ong (left) and two friends went to Bengoh Dam, a 30-minute drive from Kuching, to visit some villagers there.

About 11am, some 10 Immigration officers in five vehicles arrived and picked him up. They took him to the Kuching Immigration office.

When contacted, Ong said he had no idea why the authorities have taken this action.

“Maybe they don’t like what I did in the past.”

Election watchdog Sibu Election Watch coordinator Wong Meng Chuo claimed that Ong faces the possibility of deportation.

Deportation tonight?

When contacted at 5pm, Ong said Immigration officers are arranging for his air ticket to the peninsula. He believes that he will be deported tonight.

"I told them that I will not spend money to go back, so they have to handle it themselves. They are doing that now."

Ong believes that the authorities reacted to allegations of vote-buying during the Sarawak election last month.

"Opposition parties have made the same accusation. They cannot show proof, but we can. This has disturbed some politicians."

Ong also revealed that Immigration officers had questioned him earlier, and most of the questions were on the election watch activities.

"I told them all our activities have been written into our report to the Election Commission (EC) and that they should just get the report from EC and read it."

Ong added that the questioning was just a camouflage, "as they have already decided to deport me".