Sarawak DAP has condemned the barring of its peninsula-based party members from entering the state, describing the ban as an abuse of power. This morning, Ooi Leng Hang, a Selangor-based party staff member, was detained by the state’s immigration authorities at the Kuching International Airport. He has been put on the next return flight.

This followed the barring of Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching last night. In both cases, authorities gave no reasons for the ban other than both party members were on a certain blacklist.

Sarawak exercises immigration autonomy as part of an 18-point agreement when Malaysia was formed in 1963. Opposition lawmakers have charged that the policy has been abused by the state BN government, and that lawmakers were legally permitted to carry out political activities under the agreement.

“DAP supports the immigration autonomy of Sarawak but we do not support the abuse of this power,” state DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen told reporters in Kuching today.

“Such administrative power is like the police’s power to investigate crime. But when this power is abused, we will be the first ones to be affected,” he said.

The party now has four of its members banned, which include Petaling Jaya MP Tony Pua, who was deported from Miri Airport last September. Immigration officials informed the party in 2014 that Seputeh MP Teresa Kok is on the ban list. The full list has yet to be made public.

Chong blamed the state BN government for the bans: “If (Chief Minister) Adenan Satem can abuse his power so as to increase the chances of BN winning the elections, likewise he can abuse other powers.”

“I think he should ban (Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak if he really thinks the immigration powers are to protect Sarawak from racism and religious extremism,” he said.

Thus far, seven leaders from PKR have also been refused entry, including vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar. Amanah president Mohamad Sabu is also banned, along with 10 other activists, academicians and NGO members.

Former Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, who is also barred, said the move may be illegal . “It reeks of persecution, and shows a nervousness about the opposition,” she said when contacted today.

The Sarawak state assembly will be dissolved on April 11, and elections must be held within 60 days.