KUCHING: Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has expressed surprise that Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has defended Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem‘s imposition of a blanket ban on peninsular opposition leaders entering the state. “This is a blatant abuse of the state’s autonomy in immigration matters.”
“Legitimate political activities cannot be barred.”
“As a lawyer he should know that Adenan is wrong, she added. “He acted against the letter and spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).”
“This is unacceptable.”
She argued that Wan Junaidi himself should study and understand the letter and spirit of MA63 before supporting the blatant abuse of immigration powers by Adenan. “It’s so clear that Adenan’s purpose of imposing the undemocratic ban was to deny the opposition a level playing field in the state election.”
She cautioned Wan Junaidi against trying to defend Adenan’s action by “parroting” Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders’ excuses that the move was to preserve the state’s harmony and to bar “racists and extremists”. “DAP respects Sarawak’s autonomy in immigration matters but we cannot accept blatant abuse.”
There’s no doubt that BN Sarawak will be able to retain power on May 7, she pointed out. “So, it’s puzzling why Adenan was so afraid of the opposition.”
“He’s even prepared to go down in history as being worse than his predecessor Taib Mahmud in abusing immigration powers.”
Kok was commenting on Wan Junaidi responding to Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali’s criticism of the Sarawak Government banning opposition leaders from the peninsula. Wan Junaidi said that Azmin should study MA63 before questioning the Sarawak Government on banning politicians from the peninsula. “What we don’t desire is the action by parties to disrupt our harmony just to sell their politics here (Sarawak),” Kok noted Wan Junaidi as saying.
Wan Junaidi went on to say that it was the state government’s right to look after and safeguard Sarawak’s interest from “elements that could undermine peace and harmony”.