Yesterday, Sarawak state tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg said that any individual seen as a threat to Sarawak’s racial and religious harmony will be barred from entering the state, regardless of their political affiliations.
He said the Sarawak government has drawn up a “lengthy” list of individuals from the peninsula who are banned from entering the east Malaysian state for a variety of reasons.
As I have been banned from entering Sarawak since last year without being informed of the reason, I challenge Abang Johari to reveal why I have been banned.
I categorically deny that I have ever made any speech or carried out and activity that has threatened Sarawak’s racial and religious harmony. Neither do I have any such a plan.
It is therefore most baffling and totally unfair that I have been banned from entering Sarawak, which is part of Malaysia.
I am an elected repsentative of the Malaysian Parliament and I hold an international passport which allows me to travel all over the world. How ridiculous that I cannot travel to a part of my own country.
Two days ago, I had challenged Sabah government to prove that I am a threat to peace and harmony in Sabah following the no entry ban imposed on me on Feb 4 when I landed at Sandakan airport from KLIA 2.
I had asked Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman to publish the intelligence records which my ban was based on.
I do not think Sabah government will take up my challenge simply because there cannot be any proof that I have been or will be a threat to the state’s peace and harmony.
I have no doubt that Sabah government’s ban on me was politically motivated , and was made because of my political works which have or can become a political threat to the BN controlled federal and Sabah governments.
Similarly, the Sarawak state government’s ban on me is not because I have become or am a threat to the racial and religious harmony in the state, but because I am viewed as a political threat.
Sarawak and Sabah governments must either prove that I am a threat to the peace and harmony in their states or they must immediately lift the unfair and politically motivated ban imposed on me.