Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is perplexed how a elected parliamentarian and a “good” woman like Teresa Kok can be banned from Sabah.

Kok, who is DAP’s Seputeh MP - was denied entry into the state for allegedly being a threat to public order.

“Why fear a woman? How can a woman who is good, who has represented the people for this long can threaten public order?” asked Lim ( left ), who is also DAP’s secretary-general, in Penang, today.

“This is double-standard practice.

“If the authorities really want to take action on those who are extreme, then act on political parties who do not allow others (races) to become members, they are more extreme,” he added.

Lim said Kok - the Seputih MP - is not a, racist, criminal nor terrorist, adding that the decision of banning her from entering a state in her own country must be “strongly condemned”.

“The last I checked, Sabah is part of Malaysia,” said the DAP secretary-general in Penang today after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between KDU College and Korea University along Jalan Anson today.

Lim said the ban on Kok’s entry into Sabah has violated the principles of justice, freedom and moderation.

He deemed the ban on Kok a “politically motivated and malicious act” to prevent an MP from carrying out his or her duties or to travel freely in one’s own country.

Kok and other DAP members do not discriminate any Malaysian based on skin colour, race, religion or ideologies, like political parties in Sabah, he said.

“If you are moderate, you will be condemned as being anti-national or a racist, but if you act in an extremist manner like Ismail Sabri (Yaakob) you will receive a hero’s welcome,” he lamented.

Ismail Sabri, the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister, is in hot water over his recent controversial Facebook comment urging Malays to boycott Chinese traders who refused to lower prices of their goods.

Despite being backed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who said Ismail Sabri was referring to all traders, the latter has deleted the offensive post.

“That is the most disappointing thing about Malaysia, where if we discriminate against or condemn a minority community, we will be honoured, but if we are moderate or defend minorities against discrimination, we will be condemned,” he stressed.

According to Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun, the door is always open to those who respect the prevailing unity, peace and harmony in the state.

However, Masidi had also reportedly said if the person is suspected of causing disturbance and a threat the peace and harmony, they are not welcomed in Sabah.

He alleged that opposition parties were employing “underhanded political tactics, propaganda, lies and deceit to mislead the people” in an attempt to garner their support.

Masidi challenged to publish claims

In a statement today, Kok categorically denied ever speaking or carrying out any activity aimed at or that could cause disunity among the Sabah people.

She challenged Masidi to publish claims that purportedly showed her presence is to cause disturbance and threaten the peace and harmony in Sabah.

She denied every saying or doing anything which could threaten the peace and harmony of Sabah, adding that the police would definitely have a record of her speeches and work.

She reiterated that she is an elected MP, and one of DAP’s national vice-chairpersons, who had travelled to Sabah to carry out political activities openly.

“I admit that I do criticise the BN government polices and this will cause the federal and Sabah governments to lose popularity and support,” she said.

“ I also admit that my political mission is to bring about a political change in Sabah and Malaysia,” she added.

“But even if the Sabah government views me as a political nuisance or threat, it is totally unacceptable for it to deny my entry to the state,” she stressed.

Kok deemed the ban on her as “politically motivated, unfair, unjust and unacceptable, a clear cut and blatant abuse of the autonomous immigration power”.