THE Sarawak government has denied entry to PKR lawmaker Wong Chen to visit the state for the weekend. 

The rejection comes after the Subang MP had bought his “exorbitant economy class” flight ticket and waited for 36 hours for the entry permit.

“I am supposed to be on a plane now to go to Kuching, but my entry pass to Sarawak was rejected late last night. 

“On Wednesday morning, I bought a MAS ticket to Kuching for today and to return on Sunday, so that I can be in Parliament for next Monday.

“It cost me a whopping RM1,200 for an economy class ticket,” he said on his social media accounts. 

He added that he had applied for an entry permit via Enter Sarawak app immediately after purchasing the ticket. 

“The thing is you have to show proof of a paid plane ticket before you can apply for the entry permit. 

“After waiting 36 hours, finally at 9pm last night the Sarawak authorities rejected my request for entry,” he said.

Wong said his officer had to spend the next two hours cancelling and rebooking the flights to dates after the Sarawak elections, which also came at an additional high cost.

“Almost every option that I chose had additional charges of RM580 on top of the exorbitant RM1,200 I already paid.” 

He added that after much wrangling, my officer finally found new midweek flight dates to Kuching next month. 

“Only in Malaysia,” he sighed. 

Wong is not expected to be the only peninsula-based politician to be barred from entering Sarawak during the election campaign period. 

In the Sarawak elections standard operating procedure (SOP), the Election Commission has banned interstate travel for campaign workers and party leaders. 

This will put DAP, PKR, Amanah and PAS at a disadvantage.

The SOP dictates that each party may send five leaders or representatives to help in the campaign. 

Parties are also required to register the names of these five leaders with the Sarawak disaster management committee.

Sarawak goes to the polls next Saturday. – December 10, 2021.