Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua was picked up by Immigration Department officers in Miri despite being cleared by the immigration this morning.

The DAP lawmaker has been informed that he would be deported.

Pua said he entered Sarawak by flight at 9.30am but "apparently they made a mistake".

"(They) searched for me the whole morning (and) finally found me at lunch at about 2pm. I will be on the next flight back at 4.20pm," he told Malaysiakini.

He was not told why he is barred from entering Sarawak.

Others who have been barred from entering the East Malaysian state include former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

Sabah and Sarawak have immigration rights and can bar non-natives from entering the state.

Chief Minister Adenan Satem at an international conference this month said only racists and bigots are barred from entering Sarawak.

"Why is it that I, who have never issued a racial statement, what more a racist statement, been barred from entering Sarawak?" Pua asked.

He said the ban also disproves Adenan's claim that the Sarawak government is transparent.

"Why is it then that I'm barred when I've been at the forefront of demanding good governance and transparency?" he asked.

Pua demanded that the ban be lifted immediately to prove that the Sarawak government is not abusing its power in the lead up to the state election.

1MDB talk cause for deportation?

In February, Sarawak Tourism Minister Abang Johari Openg said the state has a "lengthy list" of individuals from the peninsula who barred from the state, purportedly as they threaten harmony.

They include columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy, Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, PKR MPs Rafizi Ramli, Tian Chua and Zuraida Kamaruddin and DAP MP Teresa Kok.

DAP's Piasau assmeblyperson Alan Ling, who was with Pua when he was picked up, suspected it has to do with DAP's 1MDB roadshow.

Pua was due to speak on the 1MDB scandal at a DAP event in Miri on Oct 3, he said when contacted.

"Adenan cannot abuse Sarawak autonomy in immigration. He needs to show if he is really fair-minded and open to criticism, or if he bows to federal directives," he said.

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