PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar cancelled her trip to Miri, Sarawak over fears she could be barred from entering the state after two of the party’s MPs, Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang) and Hee Loy Sian (Petaling Jaya Selatan) were denied entry when they landed in Miri at 2pm today.

Nurul, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, was expected to arrive in Miri at around 7pm tonight.

“Nurul did not take her flight as she was advised against it,” PKR Sarawak chief Baru Bian told The Malaysian Insight.

“She didn’t fly because she knew she won’t be allowed in.”

While Zuraida and Hee were denied entry, Kuala Sepetang assemblyman Chua Chee Ling, who flew on the same flight as the duo, was allowed in.

The PKR MPs were converging in Miri for the Diamond fundraising dinner tonight and the Purple Women’s Walk – a walk to protest against “toxic politics” – tomorrow morning.

The news about Zuraida came as Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg told reporters that he will not stop PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang and other PH leaders from entering the state tomorrow for their PH ceramah in Kuching. He made the comments shortly after 2pm in the former gold mining town of Bau – about 47km from Kuching.

Abang Johari said the opposition leaders were “not important” and they would be allowed to enter because they were “not extremists”.

Chua posted on Facebook about Her and Zuraida’s denial of entry.

Zuraida, already on the state’s immigration blacklist, was photographed flanked by two immigration officers and holding what looked like the “Notice of Refusal of Entry” that was served on her stating the “reason” why she was denied entry.

The typical reason given in denial of entry is that it was done pursuant to Section 65(i) (a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which stated “the state authority has directed that no pass be issued to you to enter the State of Sarawak and such pass is required under Section 66 for you to enter the state”.

Zuraida, who was allowed to enter the state last month to attend her party’s Raya open house in Petra Jaya, was shocked when told she was barred from entering.

“It was shocking and deeply disappointing to her,” Baru told The Malaysian Insight by phone from Miri.

“I thought this new government under Abang Johari would be different from his predecessors Adenan Satem and Abdul Taib Mahmud.

“I thought they (the state) would only ban opposition leaders during elections. This is not even an election.

“There is no basis for barring Zuraida. She is not known to be an extremist nor belong to any extremist groups.

“She is coming on legitimate political business,” said Baru.

Baru said the only reason the state barred her was that the BN government was worried about the opposition.

“They don’t want PH leaders coming here to share their testimonies.”

DAP said Sarawak’s refusal to let Zuraida enter the state was unprecedented as it denied her the freedom of movement in her own country.

Kelvin Yii, an aide of Sarawak PH chief Chong Chieng Jen, said there was no evidence to say that Zuraida and Hee were threats to Sarawak and the denial of entry was “an act of cowardice and oppression against the rights of a citizen of the country”. – September 23, 2017.