KOTA KINABALU: Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok has described the state government’s decision to bar her from entering Sabah on Wednesday as unethical and a clear abuse of its immigration powers.
She said although Sabah had the power to excise the banning of people from entering the state, this should not be an absolute power where it could be used without valid grounds.
” As I was already banned from entering into Sarawak since last year, yesterday’s ban by the Sabah government means that I cannot now travel to the two eastern states, which are parts of my own country.
“Till today, I was never told why I was banned from Sarawak. When I was denied entry into Sabah upon arrival at Sandakan airport from KLIA2 yesterday (Wednesday), I was also not told the reason why I was banned,” said Kok in a statement yesterday.
The DAP national vice-chairperson pointed out that under Malaysia Agreement, both Sabah and Sarawak were given the autonomy over immigration, but the original intention was for economic protection of the two states, that is to prevent the influx of economic migrants who will threaten the locals’ jobs.
“It was never the intention of the two state governments to use it as a political tool to deny entry of oppositions or civil society activists who want to conduct legitimate and lawful activities in the states.”
According to Kok, records showed that opposition leaders and civil society activists had been the main targets, and this clearly showed that the two Barisan Nasional (BN) – controlled state governments were using their immigration power as a political tool to suppress and oppress the opposition.
“I am a member of the Malaysian parliament who hold a Malaysian passport which allows me to travel all over the world, yet it is so ridiculous that I am not allowed entry into the two states which are parts of my own country.
“I do not pose an economic threat to Sabahans or Sarawakians, and I am certainly not a security threat to the two states or the nation.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib had once declared that he wanted to make Malaysia the best democracy in the world. He should not keep silent on such abuse of power by the BN-controlled state governments,” Teresa said.