Businessman Tan Seng Hin called on Sarawak deputy chief minister George Chan to explain his accusation which appeared in a Chinese daily report today citing the former's "extreme actions" as being the catalyst for his deportation from the state.

According to the Sin Chew Jit Poh report, Chan had said the cancelling of the 61-year-old businessman's social visit pass to Sarawak last December was justified because of his "extreme actions" in Miri.

Chan was quoted further as saying the authorities had "no reason" to review Tan's appeal and also asked the businessman to reveal why he is barred from entering Singapore as well.

On Dec 13 last year, Tan was notified by the Sarawak immigration authorities via a letter stating that his social pass was canceled and he had 14 days to leave the state. No reason was given.

At a recent press conference, Tan alleged the reason for his deportation was due to his criticism over the state government's move to change the medium of the Riam Middle School in Miri from Chinese to English.

Told to stop

Tan, when met at the Parliament House lobby in Kuala Lumpur today, told malaysiakini that the deputy chief minister should explain his accusation.

Tan was at the Parliament to seek help from its members to resolve his issue. However, he said he was disappointed with Sarawak BN members of parliament who he said had asked him to stop his campaign and linked him to the Malaysian Chinese Organisations' Elections Appeals, commonly known as Suqiu.

"They asked me to stop my campaign, but I told them the activities were organised by others to help me," he said.

"They also asked me not to bring Suqiu to East Malaysia. But Suqiu has never campaigned in Sarawak, and I have nothing to do with it," stressed Tan.

The Melaka- born engineer claimed the comparison between his deportation and the Singapore matter raised by Chan was unwarranted since he was championing the rights of Singapore workers then.

Elaborating further, Tan said he was the president of the Singapore Commercial House and Factories' Employees Union from 1965-1966 and took part in trade union activities.

He said in 1970 he was detained under the Internal Security Act for a year before being expelled from the republic the following year.

During the 1960's and1970's, more than a hundred people were expelled by Singapore for being involved in student movements, trade union movements and opposition parties, he added.

"This included, current secretary-general of the SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples'Party) Sim Kheng Hui," said Tan. Sim is also the state assemblyman for Pending and the state's assistant minister for social development and urbanisation.

Not political

Last month, the deputy chief minister had denied that Tan's deportation from Sarawak had anything to do with political activities.

Responding to the businessman's appeal that he be allowed to re-enter the state, Chan had stated in a letter dated March 1 that he believed the director of the state Immigration department and the state authorities had considered all the relevant circumstances and factors before making a decision.

"I feel that you are labouring under a mistaken assumption in thinking that someone could have been denied entry to Sarawak because of his legitimate political activities," the letter stated further.

Chan also said he would "endeavour" to help Tan but was unsure if his efforts could bring about the "desired result".

Victimised again

However, Tan said this negative response from Chan forced him to seek assistance from various political parties, non-governmental organisations and others.

"I was victimised 30 years ago as a foreigner in Singapore, but today I am victimised as a citizen of Malaysia," he added.

Tan, who is also the Miri Hainanese Association (MHA) secretary, had claimed that he had received a death threat over his stand on Chinese education.

He said the articles he wrote on the issue only related to the stand taken by the MHA pertaining to the Chung Hua Middle School and Riam Road Middle School and supported the implementation of Chinese education in the schools.

He added that the articles were written in his capacity as the secretary of MHA and reflected the decision made by the committee after extensive discussion.