DAP’S R.S.N. Rayer has become the first politician from the peninsula to be barred from entering Sarawak this general election.

Rayer, who flew into Kuching on Firefly flight FY2752 from Penang, was stopped by Immigration officers on arrival at around 5pm

He was on his way to join Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen and Bandar Kuching incumbent MP Kelvin Yii for a political gathering in Batu Kawah, about 8km from Kuching, tonight.

Rayer is believed to be on the Sarawak Immigration “blacklist” of people barred from entering the state.

In a video message posted on his Facebook, he said he was only told by the Immigration officers that he had been denied entry into Sarawak and would be put on the next available flight back to Penang.

However, DAP has said Rayer, who will be defending his Jelutong parliamentary seat, was told he was barred “on a notice issued by the state government in 2016”.

In the video message, Rayer apologised to all DAP supporters who would be going to the ceramah that he would not be there to meet and speak to them.

“I am so sorry that I could not meet you in person and speak to you at the ceramah,” he said.

He will be deported via Malaysia Airlines flight MH2597 at 9pm to Kuala Lumpur, and from there a connecting flight at 11.20pm to Penang. – November 16, 2022.