Media Statement by Teresa Kok, DAP National Vice Chairperson and MP for Seputeh in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Yesterday Tourism and Culture Minister Dato Nazri Aziz said that he supported Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Adenan’s decision in banning DAP leaders and members from entering Sarawak.
It is not a surprise that Nazri or any other BN Minister or leader will express support for Adenan, a fellow BN leader.
However, Nazri’s reason for supporting Adenan’s blanket ban on DAP leaders is totally wrong and unacceptable.
Nazri has said that DAP is chauvinistic and racist and will play up racial issues that will threaten racial harmony. This must be the worst excuse for supporting a decision that is a clear abuse of the state’s immigration powers.
How has DAP become chauvinistic when it pursues relentlessly and aggressively the 1MDB issues? Is DAP racist when it brought in electricity and water for the native community in Sabah and Sarawak? Is DAP racist when it rebuilt houses for the Malay flood victims in Kelantan?
I challenge Nazri to publish examples and evidence of how DAP is chauvinistic and racist as alleged.
It is futile for any BN leader to defend Adenan’s abuse of the immigration power as it is so plain and clear that the blanket ban is only to serve one purpose- to stop DAP leaders from campaigning in Sarawak.
Last month, Nazri had challenged former deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin and former Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukriz to contest as independents in the next general election. He said they could do so in their present constituencies or against him in his constituency if they thought they were influential.
I call on Nazri to advice or even throw a challenge to Adenan– fight the opposition fair and square if you think you are popular and influential.
Nazri should also tell Adenan that, unless he lifts the unfair, undemocratic ban, he will go down in history as being worse than former Sarawak chief minister Tun Taib Mahmud in abusing the state’s immigration powers.
Teresa Kok
