C4: Sarawak ban on Pua violation of human rights
The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) has expressed its surprise over the Sarawak government’s decision to ban Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua from the state, calling it a violation of human rights.
Pua was planning to meet DAP members in Sarawak to explain to them the development of the 1MDB issue.
The DAP lawmaker was picked up by Immigration Department officers in Miri yesterday despite being cleared by the immigration and was informed that he would be deported.
C4 chairperson Simon Sipaun recalled the latest move to ban Pua comes just three weeks after Chief Minister Adenan Satem ( photo ) said he would review the ban on several individuals who were previously barred from entering the state.
Others who are barred from the state include former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and several opposition lawmakers.
Adenan had agreed to do so during a high powered International Anti-Corruption Conference in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 3, when responding to a question on the matter posed by C4 excutive director Cynthia Gabriel.
Simon said Adenan had then agreed to review the ban list, saying Sarawak would only exclude “extremists and religious fanatics”.
"Pua is neither an extremist nor a religious fanatic, he is a democratically elected parliamentarian, is a member of the Public Accounts Committee, and a fervent anti-graft lawmaker as is the honorable chief minister himself.
"This move perplexes us, and we urge Chief Minister Adenan to provide further details and clear reasons on the travel ban of Pua," Simon said in press statement today.
He added that members of the election watchdog would be extremely alarmed but not surprised if Putrajaya had given direct instructions to stop Pua from entering the state.
Need clarification in spirit of transparency
However, Simon urged for greater clarification about the matter, in the spirit of transparency as espoused by the chief minister.
"We can only hope that this is not another episode of graft-busters and whistleblowers being victimised, in speaking against corruption," he said.
Simon cited Article 13 of the Universal Human Rights Declaration that "everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state".
He said barring Pua and other Malaysians from entering Sarawak is a violation of their human rights, adding that the previous administration had abused the provisions to bar critics from entering the state.
"This new development does not bode well for a changing and more open face of the new leader of the state of Sarawak, who since his tenure as chief minister, has expressed commitment towards transparency fair-mindedness, and in walking the talk.
"We look forward to explanations from the Sarawak government and urge for the ban on Tony Pua and all anti-graft advocates to be lifted," Simon added.
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