SIBU: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has been told not to play to the gallery and accuse the state government of abusing its powers.
Assistant Minister of Social Development (Youth) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was reacting to Lim’s claim that the state government’s move to ban certain individuals from entering the state was an abuse of power.
“Lim must know and understand that Sarawak has certain ‘autonomous rights and privileges’ which it inherits when Malaysia was formed together with Malaya, Singapore and Sabah in 1963,” Abdul Karim, who is a PBB Supreme Council member, said.
He said these rights were enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution and Immigration was one of those rights.
Hence, he said it was not within Lim’s capacity and jurisdiction to allege that the state government’s move to ban certain individuals from entering the state was an abuse of power.
“Who is he to claim as such? Is he trying to say that this Immigration rights which Sarawak holds dearly is unconstitutional? The only organ of government that could deem it an abuse of power and unconstitutional is the judiciary.”
The BN candidate for Asajaya reckoned if Lim was unhappy with the barring of certain individuals by the Sarawak government, which included some leaders from DAP, he (Lim) should refer the matter to court for a judicial review.
“Do not play to the gallery and accuse the Sarawak Government of abusing its powers.
“The state government has been reiterating that this barring of certain individuals into the state was not aimed at members of the opposition.
“Those that the state feels ‘undesirable’ are those who are not welcome. They include religious bigots and those who could disrupt the harmonious multi ethnic, multi cultural and multi religious society that we have built up all these years.
“It’s not easy building up Sarawak to what it is today. We do not want it destroyed by undesirable elements from outside who have no love for the state and only coming here to create disharmony and instilling hatred among the people.
“After they are done with their evil acts, they will be back in their own states, leaving us to pick up the pieces of their destructive acts. We would rather prevent them from coming then allow them to destroy the peace and harmony that we have built this far,” he said.
Malay non-governmental organisations coalition chairman Datuk Jamal Md Yunus who is also Sungai Besar Umno division chief, along with three other individuals were stopped from entering the state upon arrival at Kuching International Airport at 11.30am on Thursday.
Others included Gerakan Memartabatkan Pejuang Negara president Major (Rtd) Razali Zakaria, Eratkan Perhubungan Antara Negeri Cetuskan Organisasi (Epanco) president Ariffin Abu Bakar and Klang Malay Welfare Association president Rahim Ibrahim.