SARAWAK will continue to wield its authority over immigration to keep out political troublemakers and religious extremists.

Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg made it clear he would uphold his predecessor, Adenan Satem’s policy of using the state’s autonomy in immigration to keep out unwelcome Malaysians from the peninsula.

Speaking to the media on his 100th day in office as chief minister, Abang Johari said he was troubled by the religious and political turmoil on the peninsula.

“Of course we are worried by what is happening in the peninsula.

“We have our own political culture and a culture to protect. That is why when I became chief minister, one of the first things I did was to say that Umno will never come to Sarawak as long as I am chief minister. We want to be clean.

“That is why Jamal (Yunos) – the firebrand Umno divisional leader, Ibrahim Ali (Malay rights group Perkasa) leader are still barred from the state.”

Abang Johari, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, said DAP “extremists and troublemakers” would be similarly  barred from entering the state.

He said Sarawak stood firm on the issue of religion and would continue to oppose any attempt to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, commonly known as RUU355, in Parliament.

“I told the prime minister (Najib Razak) that everybody (in Malaysia) is equal in the eyes of the law.

“That is under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution.

“If Uggah (non-Muslim Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah) and I were to commit a crime, why should I be punished more heavily than him?

“Why should the Malays get heavier punishment? Where is the equality under Article 8?”

Abang Johari said even if RUU355 were passed, it faced legal challenges “because it is ultra vires of the constitution”. – April 22, 2017.