EC can’t stop S’wak from barring politicians, says commission chief

comments     Published     Updated

The Election Commission (EC) does not have the powers to interfere with Sarawak exercising its autonomy over immigration matters, said the EC chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah.

"If any members of a political party or individuals have been or will be barred from entering the state of Sarawak during the election period or at any other time, it is not within the jurisdiction of the EC," Hashim said in a statement today.

He explained that the handling of immigration matters within the state of Sarawak is the absolute right (hak mutlak) of the state government as well as the right of the state's immigration.

The EC, he stressed, will not interfere with the tasks of other authorities.

"(EC) will always respect whatever actions taken by other authorities in carrying out their duties in accordance with existing legislations," he added.

He was responding to the recent spate of opposition leaders being barred and, in some cases, deported from Sarawak.

Earlier today, former Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan had said it was against the law to ban someone from entering Sarawak if that person is going there to carry out political activities.

"From my recollection of the relevant laws, a person cannot be banned from entering Sarawak if he or she is going there for a political purpose.

"In my view, the recent spate of banning politicians is not legal," she had said.

The latest opposition politician to be barred from entering Sarawak is DAP's assistant national publicity secretary Teo Nie Ching , who was turned away last night, while the creator of the Ubah DAP mascot and key member of the party's campaign machinery Ooi Leng Hang was stopped at the Kuching airport this morning.

Previously, PKR vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin had also been denied entry into the state, although he managed to talk his way into being allowed in eventually.

Other PKR leaders who have been barred from Sarawak include PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar, Tian Chua and Rafizi Ramli, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, PKR election director Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Subang MP R Sivarasa.

DAP’s Petaling Jaya MP Tony Pua and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok were also banned, while Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu was barred from entering Sarawak last month.

Sarawak exercises autonomy over immigration matters under the Malaysian agreement but is not allowed to bar people from entering the state for political activities.

Adenan had announced that the state assembly will be dissolved on April 11 to pave the way for an election.



Malaysiakini
news and views that matter


Sign In