“The control of immigration was intended to protect job and business opportunities, as well as security and the quality of life of Sarawak citizens,” argued Tian Chua in a statement today.
“Such power should never be misused for political purposes.”
The Batu parliamentarian criticised Adenan’s “open bragging” about barring West Malaysian Opposition politicians, saying that this went against the chief minister’s belief in fairness and open-mindedness.
“While I fully respect and defend Sarawak’s autonomous rights over immigration as a legitimate entitlement under the Malaysian Agreement, enshrined in the Federal Constitution, Tan Sri Adenan should be mindful of its original objective and not allow the perception of abuses,” Tian Chua said.
The weeks leading up to the Sarawak election on May 7 has seen the number of Opposition politicians barred from entering the state increase.
Those denied entry included lawmakers Gobind Singh Deo, Khalid Samad, Hannah Yeoh, and Nurul Izzah, among others.
Adenan had said this barring was to protect the state from “unsavoury elements”, and that those refused entry now were free to enter after the state election was concluded.