Businessman Tan Seng Hin left Sarawak this afternoon, after spending six days in hiding from the state immigration authorities.

The 61-year-old developer who was deported from Sarawak in January this year was allowed back into the state by "accident" on Sunday and has been evading authorities since.

Tan when contacted this evening said that he went into hiding because he wanted to spend time with his family whom he had not seen in six months.

"I also wanted to exercise my right as a voter," he added.

On Thursday, the immigration department allowed Tan to vote in the state elections but slapped him with an order the next day asking him to leave the state.

According to Tan, he was unable to meet his family and friends for the first four days. Asked where he had been hiding, Tan said somewhere in Miri but declined to reveal any other detail.

The authorities went to his house numerous times in search of Tan and also to the Hainan Clan Association of Miri. Tan was the association's former secretary.

"I came out of hiding on polling day because I knew they wouldn't arrest me," said Tan.

"I was told by the authorities last night to stay at home and was later escorted by them to Miri airport for my flight," said Tan, who reached Kuala Lumpur at 6pm.

No reason

Tan, who was deported without reason, suspects that his criticism of the state government's move to change the medium of the Riam Middle School in Miri from Chinese to English, was the catalyst of his expulsion.

But Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister George Chan denied that the deportation was politically motivated.

Tan, his wife Loo Ah Looi and their two children have been living in Sarawak for the past 23 years.

Asked whether he will move his family here, Tan said he has not thought about that as his main priority is to fight for his right.

Since his deportation, Tan has tried in vain to overturn the state government's decision. He has sought the help of opposition leaders and non-governmental organisations as well as Suhakam.