DAP deputy secretary-general Ngeh Koo Ham is the latest to be barred from entering Sarawak.

Later today, Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi was likewise deported from Sarawak on arrival at Sibu airport.

Speaking to Malaysiakini , Ngeh accused Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem of not playing fair with regard to the coming state election.

“Even from kindergarten, we are taught that when we compete in a competition, we must play fair.

“The election is a competition between the opposition and BN parties to ask the people to choose who is better to lead Sarawak,” Ngeh said.

He arrived at the Kuching International Airport about 8.50am today, together with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Penang DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow and Lim’s information officer Zaidi Ahmad.

Immigration officers had then asked Ngeh for his MyKad and told him to wait in a room, before informing the MP that he was barred from entering the state.

“They showed me a notice which states that to enter Sarawak, one needs to have a pass and that they are not issuing the entry pass to me. Therefore, I had to be deported,” he said.

The Beruas MP had checked his particulars on the Immigration Department’s website last week and was told to refer to the nearest immigration office.

“I went to the Manjung immigration office in Perak and was informed that everything was clear - there’s no record stating that I can’t travel,” he said, explaining the reason why he decided to board the flight to Sarawak this morning.

'A shameful thing'

Continuing his criticism against Adenan, the DAP leader branded the chief minister’s actions as a “disgrace” to all Sarawakians.

“I believe, if you ask people who know me there (in Sarawak), either from the Methodist churches or DAP supporters, or even if they support BN, they will definitely say I shouldn’t be barred.

“This is such a shameful thing. I call on the people of Sarawak not to support a person who is a disgrace to them,” he said.

Ngeh also questioned Adenan’s arbitrary manner in deciding who can and cannot enter the state.

Citing Lim, he pointed out how the two are both parliamentarians and assemblypersons.

“There’s nothing to differentiate us, so (Adenan) should treat us fairly,” Ngeh added.

Meanwhile, Ooi just arrived in KLIA this evening and will be taking a separate flight to Penang as there was no direct flight to the island from Sibu.

Ooi said he had entered Miri in February and Sibu in March with no problems.

"I checked my status on the immigration website two weeks ago and there was also no restriction," he said.

So far, more than 40 opposition lawmakers, activists and academicians have been banned, including PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, DAP lawmakers Tony Pua and Anthony Loke as well as Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu.