updated version

A 61-year-old Malaysian businessman was deported from Sarawak because he was an "extremist", Deputy Home Affairs Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told Parliament today.

"Tan Seng Hin's social visit pass was denied because he was an extremist with regard to government policies," said the deputy minister, adding that as a holder of such a pass, Tan should not indulge in activities against the state.

Zainal was responding to DAP member of Parliament for Seputeh Teresa Kok's query as to why the businessman was deemed an extremist.

On Dec 13, Tan, who had resided in Sarawak for the past 23 years, was asked to leave the state via a letter from the authorities without being given any reason. The Melaka-born Tan was then deported from Miri on Jan 6 this year, forced apart from his Sarawak-born wife and two children.

Sarawak and Sabah were granted the right to impose separate immigration controls when they joined the Federation of Malaya in 1963 to form Malaysia.

Zainal, however, refused to elaborate on Tan's 'anti-government' activities when pressed for more details by opposition MPs.

"I will give a written answer tomorrow. I cannot remember all the details (now)," he said.

DAP MP for Kota Melaka, Kerk Kim Hock rebuked Zainal's answers and said the reasons should be told to Parliament and not just to Kok.

Parliamentary gaffe

Meanwhile, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang dismissed Zainal's answers as "unsatisfactory and unacceptable" and said it showed a "deteriorating standard of ministerial performance in Parliament".

"Zainal should have been fully briefed on Tan's case by the officers before he stood up to answer the various issues raised by the MPs ," said Lim in a press statement.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should ensure that his ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries be more serious in their parliamentary duties by being fully prepared on the briefs so that nobody would commit such a "parliamentary gaffe", added Lim.

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