KUALA LUMPUR: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has given the Sabah Government, Immigration Sabah and the Malaysian Immigration Department seven days to furnish her with proof that she was a threat to peace and harmony in the rural areas of Sabah.
She also wants to know why she has been denied entry into Sabah and blacklisted.
In the event the parties concerned don’t respond within the stipulated time, or fail to respond satisfactorily, she has given her lawyer Sankara Nair strict instructions to file a suit against the said parties. “They have to respond in 7 days, failing which, I will file a suit against the Sabah Government for banning me from entering the state,” said Kok. “I challenge Putatan (Marcus Mojigoh) to show proof.”
He was one of the few to defend her when she was first denied entry, by issuing a statement criticising the Sabah Government for the ban.
She was expressing disappointment with Putatan MP Marcus Mojigoh, her once staunch defender, who allegedly has done an about-turn and now thinks that she’s a threat to the peace and security of Sabah.
“After he had made that statement (supporting me), he was called up by the Chief Minister of Sabah (Musa Aman),” she said. “Now, he’s trying to save himself in the Dewan, by making these statements without any basis.”
She added that she was always followed by Special Branch police officers during her trips to rural parts of Sabah. “They always record my speeches, as well as interrogate the village folks on what I had told them,” said Kok.
Sandakan MP Stephen Wong believes that Sabah’s immigration autonomy should be continued, but he condemns abuse. “I appeal to the Sabah Government not to use the law to crucify the Opposition, especially Members of Parliament” he said.
He criticized Marcus as “a man without principles,” for going back on his word, on the Teresa Kok incident, and “could not be trusted”.
“He has been a hero in Sabah for a while for his initial statement, but today in Parliament, he changed to a different man,” said Wong. “Most of BN are doing the same. They say one thing in one place, and another at a different place. They are not fit to lead.”
Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, banned from entering Sarawak, said proper explanations and reasons have to be given when someone, especially parliamentarians, are banned.
“I have been fighting for the Penan in Sarawak, for the livelihood of their women and so forth,” she said. “If that’s the reason I was banned, it’s not fair, as I am championing the causes of the discriminated in Sarawak.”
Zuraida pointed out that Malaysia has laws and if the authorities feel she was provoking or intimidating, they should be charging her using specific laws, so that it can be contested, instead of imposing a blanket entry ban.