As a Sarawakian, I am ashamed to read these kind of news.
Sunday February 15, 2009
Sivarasa barred from Sarawak
KUCHING: PKR vice-president R. Sivarasa was denied entry into Sarawak yesterday, becoming the second politician from the party to be barred from the state.
The Subang MP was stopped by immigration officials at Kuching International Airport at 1.30pm and served with a notice of refusal of entry under Section 66(1) of the Immigration Act.
The reason given was that he was not from Sarawak and therefore not entitled to enter the state without a permit or pass.
Sivarasa, who last came to Sarawak in July last year to attend the World Rainforest Music Festival with his wife, said he was at a loss as to why he was denied entry.
And of course, we still remember just end of last year a similar treatment given to an opposition member:
Wednesday December 24, 2008
MP denied entry into Sarawak
A PKR parliamentarian has been denied entry into Sarawak by immigration officers at the Kuching International airport.
According to N Gobalakrishnan, who is MP for Padang Serai, the incident happened at around 5.30pm and he believed that it was politically motivated.
“The moment I reached the airport, immigration officers told me that I am not allowed to enter due to instructions from the state government,” he told Malaysiakini.
“The immigration officer gave me a notice which reads ‘Tuan bukan rakyat Sarawak, tidak berhak untuk masuk ke Sarawak tanpa permit atau pas Akta Imigresen 1959-1963’ (You are not a citizen of Sarawak and are not eligible to enter Sarawak without a permit or immigration pass).
Having visited Sarawak many times, Gobalakrishnan said he did not face any problems with the state immigration until this week.
Gobalakrishnan said his most recent visit to the state was last week when he was in Lubok Antu, south of Kuching, to help the locals in their Christmas preparation.
If it is not politically motivated, what is the possible reason for refusing their entry? Anyone who puts on a thinking cap would know that behind all the ‘excuses’ given for the decision, it is dirty politics rearing its ugly head.
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