Press Statement issued by DAP National Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on 14 April 2016:
DAP Secretary General YAB Lim Guan Eng has sent the following letter to the Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Seri Adenan Satem yesterday urging the latter to direct the Director of Immigration to allow DAP members and leaders entry into Sarawak for legitimate political activity instead of barring them from Sarawak unreasonably:-
Attn: Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Seri Adenan Satem
Re: Request for DAP members to be allowed entry into Sarawak
I refer to the above matter.
My attention has been drawn to the fact that the Member of Parliament for Kulai and DAP’s Assistant National Publicity Secretary, YB Teo Nie Ching and my party member Ooi Leng Hang were both refused entry into the State of Sarawak by the Director of Immigration, Sarawak pursuant to directions by the State Authority, under the provisions of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
2. I understand that there may be many other members from my party, who are mostly members of parliament are on a “ban list” by the State Authority directing the Director of the Immigration to refuse entry to them into Sarawak.
I refer to s67 of the Act which states that:
“67. Subsection 66(1) shall not have effect in relation to a citizen entering the East Malaysian State for the sole purpose of engaging in legitimate political activity; but the burden of proof that a person is entitled to enter the East Malaysian State under this section shall lie on him.”
S66(1) is the section of the Act which imposes the requirement of an entry Permit or Pass for entry into Sarawak.
3. As the DAP Secretary General, I am vouching for YB Teo Nie Ching, Ooi Leng Hang and all other DAP members of parliament that their intention to enter Sarawak is for the sole purpose of engaging in legitimate political activity, such as engaging in election campaign for the imminent Sarawak State Election.
In the above premise, s66(1) shall not have effect to them and they shall be allowed entry into Sarawak as of right.
I am writing to you to urge you to direct the Director of Immigration to forthwith allow the above said people entry into Sarawak.
Your kind indulgence in this matter is appreciated.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
YAB Lim Guan Eng
Secretary General
DAP Malaysia