Miri: DAP National Acting Chairman Tan Kok Wai is livid over the ban on Opposition leaders from entering Sarawak and says the chief minister’s use of autonomy to block “unfavourable elements” from entering the state must be substantiated.

“Adenan (Satem) must prove that DAP leaders and party employees who were banned from Sarawak are racists and religious extremists.

“If they (the Sarawak government) can’t (prove), then all bans should be lifted,” he told reporters here today.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo of DAP became the latest casualty of the travel ban when he was barred entry from the state today. Previous DAP figures also slapped with the ban were Selangor Speaker Hannah Yeo and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.

Tan, who is also MP for Cheras, asked if Adenan would impose similar bans on Barisan Nasional and Umno leaders who spewed racist comments.

When asked however about the clash between PKR and DAP over seats in six constituencies in Sarawak, Tan said his party had no plans to withdraw any of their candidates.

The overlapping seats are Batu Kitang, Simanggang, Mambong, Ngemah, Mulu and Murum.

He also reiterated the stance of other DAP leaders, who said it was PKR that breached the agreement on seat allocations by contesting in five of the seats currently under dispute.