WHAT is the Sarawak government so afraid of?

This is the question Sarawak PKR leader Baru Bian is asking after three of his PKR colleagues  from Peninsular Malaysia were deported from the state yesterday ahead of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s first ceramah in Kuching later today.

Baru expressed shock, especially at the way Kuala Sepetang assemblyman Chua Yee Ling was interrupted in the middle of a party fundraiser in Miri and deported on the last flight out.

“The Immigration Department, on the advice of the state government, took a very extreme action,” Baru told The Malaysian Insight.

“When an official function is going on, and you take such an action, it reflects arrogance. 

Immigration officers cut short Chua’s speech at the state PKR’s “Pink Diamond” fundraising dinner in Miri last night. She was escorted to the Miri airport and placed on a flight to Kuala Lumpur at 9:30pm. 

Chua was the third opposition lawmaker from Peninsular Malaysia deported from Sarawak yesterday.

Baru condemned the deportations, adding that the Immigration Act does not forbid lawmakers from carrying out legitimate political activities.

“And you (state goverment) are no better than Umno when you say you want to stop the culture of Semenanjung (Peninsular Malaysia) from coming into Sarawak. This is the culture!”

“This is a silly thing to do. Why can’t you wait until the function is over or wait until the next morning? 

“I think the people would not take this lightly. I think those who witnessed the incident would be very angry that such action has been taken.” 

“We can only conclude that there must be something that they are very fearful of.” 

Opposition lawmakers Zuraida Kamarudin and Hee Loy Sian were barred entry upon landing at Miri yesterday. PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar was also supposed to arrive in Miri last night, but was advised by party leaders against taking the flight. 

The PKR lawmakers were converging in Miri for the fundraiser and the “Purple Women’s Walk” - a walk to protest “toxic politics” this morning. 

Later this evening, a Pakatan Harapan ceramah will be held in Kuching with the opposition coalition chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad slated to be the final speaker. 

The deportations yesterday came just hours after Sarawak chief minister Abang Johari Openg had said that the state will not bar the entry of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Lim Kit Siang and other Pakatan Harapan leaders into the state for their first ceramah in Kuching today.

Speaking at the 60th anniversary celebrations in Bau yesterday morning, Abang Johari had said it was not a problem for Dr Mahathir and Lim to enter the state as “they are not extremists”.

“I will bar any politician who may be a threat to Sarawak’s unity. Freedom of speech does not mean it can be done at the expense of the rakyat, he had said. – September 24, 2017.