PARLIAMENT Despite barring certain politician from entering Sarawak, the democratic process of the state election went on smoothly, according to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"The power to bar certain leaders from entering Sarawak is the absolute power of the state government, as stipulated under Section 65 of the Immigration Act," he said.

"All parties should respect the decision of the state government and the fact is the process of democracy went on smoothly throughout the state polls," he said in his capacity as home minister.

Zahid was replying to Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP-Beruas) who asked if Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem had breached Section 67 of the Immigration Act by barring leaders from entering the state to campaign.

"Will he be charged under this section?" asked Ngeh.

Zahid had previously said that 43 individuals had been banned from entering the state during the state election.

Those barred included PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tian Chua, secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua, Selangor state legislative assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.

Besides barring the politicians, the immigration authorities also forced non-Sarawakians to leave the state a few days before the May 7 polls.

The Sarawak Immigration Department usually grants Malaysians from the peninsula a 90-day social pass.