The Sabah and Sarawak state governments should initiate moves to repeal all laws which restrict movement of people to and from other states, said opposition politician Karpal Singh today.

The DAP deputy chairperson said laws requiring West Malaysians to have a work permit to seek employment there is counter-productive to the creation of national unity.

"Sabah and Sarawak have been integral entities of the Federation of Malaysia since September 1963. It is high time there is a free flow of people in Malaysia. The laws (setting the requirements) are archaic and destructive of national unity," he said in a statement.

Karpal's call was spurred by news yesterday that a Perak-born lawyer Mursyida Abdul Halim, had been rejected for admission to the Sabah Bar following objections from the Sabah Law Association.

Mursyida has been denied the opportunity to practise law in the state after the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that she had failed to prove her intention of leaving her native Perak for good to reside in Sabah.

According to a New Straits Times report yesterday, the lawyer had indicated her intention of moving to Sabah by purchasing an apartment and presenting an employment letter from law firm Sugumar and Co.

However, this was ruled to be "unsatisfactory" as she had not informed national registration authorities of her intentions or taken action to change her polling area during the last revision of the electoral role.

Activists barred

In his statement, Karpal, a prominent lawyer, also criticised the Sabah Law Association for objecting to Mursyida's application.

"I am somewhat surprised the association had objected when the Sabah state Attorney-General's Chambers raised no objections to her admission. The Sabah Law Association should not have acted as a warlord."

He said such cases emphasise the necessity of repealing all laws giving Sabah and Sarawak full autonomy in immigration matters.

The unique powers of the two states were negotiated as conditions for their agreement to join the Federation of Malaysia upon independence from the British.

A requirement for all West Malaysians to present their international passports in order to enter the two states was repealed several years ago. However, the two states continue to retain powers to deny entry to 'blacklisted' Malaysians.

Since last month, two activists were barred from entering Sarawak for their work against logging and in campaigning for human rights.