After living in exile for almost a year, deported businessman Tan Seng Hin is planning to return to Sarawak and if barred, legal action will be taken against the state government, said his lawyer today.

Tan's lawyers have sent a letter dated Nov 26 to the Sarawak government informing them about the businessman's intention.

"Since the period of one year will expire on Dec 5, our client would like to return to have a reunion with his family in Miri.

"We hope that you will do the necessary to enable our client to enter Miri on or after Dec 6," the letter read.

When contacted, Tan's legal counsel said if the businessman was barred or deported again, legal action would be initiated.

"We would take this issue to the High Court. The stipulation is that he would only be barred for one year. We would be going on that argument, "added the lawyer who declined to be named.

Tan, a former Chinese educationist, was deported on Jan 6 without any reason.

Politically motivated

However, the father of two claims he was deported due to his criticism of the state government's decision to change the medium of instruction for two schools in Miri from Mandarin to English.

The 61-year-old who originally hails from Malacca had resided in Sarawak for 23 years under a social pass.

Following his deportation, Tan had tried in vain to get a retraction. He sought the help of politicians, the media and even filed a suit with the Sarawak High Court.

On April 5, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Zainal Abidin Zin had labelled Tan as a security threat when responding to a question regarding Tan's deportation in Parliament.

The Sarawak state government holds arbitrary power over residents staying in the state on social passes and is empowered to deport them without giving any reason.

On Sept 27, Tan was momentarily allowed back into Sarawak to vote in the state elections but was given strict orders to present himself to the department, stay only at his home in Miri and to leave Sarawak a day after the elections.