“You know from my answers that I will not lift the ban. But they can come to Sarawak any time after the election,” the Sarawak Barisan Nasional chief told reporters at a press conference at Wisma Bapa Sarawak today.

Adenan was responding to the Opposition’s criticism after more than 20 DAP and several PKR and Amanah leaders were denied entry into the East Malaysian state for the upcoming election.

Politicians aside, several activists, including former Bar Council President Ambiga Sreenevasan, were also barred from entering Sarawak. Ambiga had accused him of abusing the Immigration Act.

Adenan has insisted he was merely doing his job as Sarawak chief minister to “protect the state from unsavoury elements”.

He also stressed that the ban also applied to Umno and BN leaders considered as extremist.
“We have also banned people like Ibrahim Ali and Ridhuan Tee before,” he said, referring to the Perkasa chief and controversial preacher respectively.