PKR: Why scandal-plagued Umno chief not barred from S’wak?

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Why should opposition leaders who have done no wrong be barred from Sarawak, when an issue-plagued BN president can be let in, asked Opposition leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Commenting on the spate of rejections opposition leaders have faced in travelling to Sarawak in the run up to state elections, Wan Azizah said Satem's move especially with regard to Pakatan Harapan is “very disappointing”.

“Why should a state exco and an MP not be allowed to enter Sarawak when they have done no wrong and committed no crime, whereas an Umno president plagued with numerous issues and controversies within the country and abroad is treated so well?

“In a healthy democracy, a fair and level political playing field demands that political parties from all sides be allowed to meet voters and conduct political activities allowed by the law.

“So long as no laws have been breached, entry into Sarawak should in principle be allowed to all.

“But what has taken place today shows that opposition parties are being treated completely differently compared to those from Umno-BN” said the PKR president in a statement today.

The latest victim of Sarawak’s autonomous immigration policy is

Penang exco member Abdul Malik Abul Kassim , who was turned away at Sarawak's Immigration yesterday.

Former Bersih co-chairpeson Ambiga Sreenevasan said the ban is against Immigration laws , which in Section 67 of the federal Act states that restriction on a citizen's right of entry into an East Malaysian state does not come into effect "in relation to a citizen entering [...] for the sole purpose of engaging in legitimate political activity".

The EC however said it is powerless to act on the matter, which it said is under the jurisdiction of the Sarawak government.

'Hold fair elections, Adenan'

Wan Azizah said the opposition leaders were barred from entering Sarawak without being provided clear reasons for their denial of entry.

:”In a healthy democracy, a fair and level political playing field demands that political parties from all sides be allowed to meet voters and conduct political activities allowed by the law.

"So long as no laws have been breached, entry into Sarawak should in principal be allowed to all,” said the PKR president.

She urged Adenan to end this practice “for the sake of democracy and a free and fair elections”.

“I hope that Adenan can be a just and open-minded man; surely he can only wish to present an administration which is better and fairer than the one before.”



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