DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was allowed through Sarawak immigration this morning even though several of his top party colleagues were barred from entering the state.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, had yesterday gave an advance notice to the state immigration before travelling to Sarawak. He departed from Penang on AirAsia Flight AK5432 and arrived in Kuching Airport at 9.10am.

He was accompanied by Penang state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow, who was also let through by Sarawak immigration.

Lim had in a letter to Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem on Tuesday appealed for the latter to stop barring opposition leaders from entering the state ahead of the Sarawak election on May 7. However, he did not receive any response.

At least 30 opposition leaders and activists including DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke and Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching have been deported on arrival in Sarawak in recent weeks.

Lim stressed that according to the Immigration Act 1959/1963, while Sarawak exercises autonomy over immigration affairs, it cannot bar people entering the state for “legitimate political activities”.

Adenan had insisted that the state was only preventing “extremists” from entering Sarawak.

Sarawak immigration has refused to release the full list of Peninsular Malaysians barred by the state.