In urging the removal of an alleged blanket ban on Pakatan Harapan lawmakers from entering Sarawak, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang today charged that such abuses of power stems from the one fear of losing power.

During his speech in Kepala Batas this morning, Lim said he was subjected to the same treatment in 1974 and had raised his objection in Parliament.

After 42 years, the Gelang Patah MP noted that the Sarawak state government under chief minister Adenan Satem has “gone back to such undemocratic practices and abuses of power”.

“All these abuses of power stem from one fear - the fear of losing power.

“How can one claim to be a democrat when one is afraid of losing power and is prepared to resort to all sorts of undemocratic and illegal means to remain in power at all costs?” Lim said.

Within the span of three days, three peninsular-based opposition politician has joined the growing list of individuals banned from entering Sarawak ahead of the upcoming state elections.

PKR Penang state exco member Abdul Malik Abul Kassim was barred from entering Sarawak this morning, after a similar move against Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching and Ubah mascot creator Ooi Leng Hang.

Lim also claimed that such moves are the reason why Sarawak and Malaysia have yet to develop to become a normal democracy where voters can change political parties in government without it being presented as national catastrophe.

“The marvel in the case of Sarawak is Adenan Satem is not facing the prospect of losing power, as he will be returned as the Sarawak chief minister in the 11th Sarawak state elections with the dissolution of the Sarawak state assembly tomorrow.

“The only question to be decided in the Sarawak state polls is whether Adenan will be able to win with a two-thirds majority,” he said.

Unless the concept of democracy is used to hide authoritarian tendencies, Lim also said that leaders should not be afraid to lose in an election.

“If Adenan is so afraid of democracy, why is he holding elections?

“I hope Adenan will remove his blanket ban on Pakatan Harapan MPs and leaders from entering Sarawak for legitimate political parties in campaigning in the Sarawak state elections - unless he can make out a case that the persons being banned are religious bigots, extremists or troublemakers,” he stressed.

Lim also said this in response to Adenan who was yesterday quoted by news portal The Malay Mail Online as saying that he could be joining the list of individuals banned from entering Sarawak, along with his son Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, as well as PKR president and opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Sarawak exercises immigration autonomy as part of an 18-point agreement when Malaysia was formed in 1963.

Opposition lawmakers have charged that the policy has been abused by the state BN government, and that they were legally permitted to carry out political activities under the agreement.