Sim (right) and Lee at KIA Immigration office. — Photo courtesy of Sim’s Facebook account.
KUCHING: Two PKR elected representatives – Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin and Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon – were yesterday barred from entering the state.
Sim and Lee were served with ‘Notice of Refusal of Entry’ by the Immigration Department at Kuching International Airport (KIA) upon their arrival at 11.45am.
Sim, in his Facebook posting said: “I asked the officer, since 2015, I have travelled to Sarawak 11 times. Two weeks ago I was allowed to enter (Sarawak). I did nothing wrong, why ban me today?”
He said his query was met with a faint smile from the female Immigration Department officer, who then told him: “This is the instructions from the state government.”
Both Sim and Lee went back to Kuala Lumpur on the next available flight.
Sim, who is PKR strategy director, told The Borneo Post that he was actually on a day trip here to give moral support and also to attend the announcement of PKR candidates for the coming state election.
He was supposed to fly back around 6pm yesterday.
Nevertheless, he said he respected the state’s constitutional rights to ban anyone from entering the state.
“But I hope that in the name of free, fair election and equal playing field, the state government should not ban opposition leaders from Peninsular Malaysia to enter Sarawak because we equally love Sarawak and Sarawakians.”
Another member of the opposition, Selangor State Legislative Assembly Speaker Hannah Yeoh of DAP, was also prohibited from entering the state upon her arrival at Sibu Airport yesterday.
On her Twitter account, the Subang Jaya assemblywoman wrote: “(Sic) Landed at Sibu Airport. Banned from entering Sarawak. I’m here for an event hosted by the church. Forced to pay RM1013 to fly back to KLIA.
“No one here give me an explanation, only can say ‘I’m sorry Puan – ‘kita hanya ikut arahan sahaja’ (we’re only following orders).”
In a press statement issued later, Yeoh wanted Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to explain about the reason behind the banned entry.
She stressed that immigration laws were enacted to protect Sarawakians.
“I organised fundraising dinners in Selangor to build basic infrastructure for the poor in Sarawak. How can that be a threat?
“I would like an explanation from the Barisan nasional (BN) caretaker government on the matter – failing which an apology would be appropriate,” she said.