Arutchelvam first to be barred from Sarawak after polls

Arutchelvam first to be barred from Sarawak after polls

Barring PSM leader and other activists show the move is politically-motivated, says party's central committee member.

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PETALING JAYA:
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) Secretary-General S Arutchelvan has been barred from entering Sarawak, the first to be barred after the state elections on May 7.

He was in Sarawak at the invitation of local communities to conduct a human rights workshop, said PSM central committee member Choo Chon Kai.

Choo said the barring of Arutchelvan, along with other activists, at the Miri airport, showed the move was politically-motivated and the state immigration had violated basic human rights.

“It says a lot on how arrogant Sarawak is under (Chief Minister) Adenan Satem.

“We criticise the actions of Sarawak state immigration to bar Arutchelvan and other activists with him from visiting Sarawak. The state immigration authorities have violated basic human rights,” he said in a media statement today.

Choo said the state government must explain why Arutchelvam was barred and urged the government to stop being arrogant.

Prior to the elections, more than 40 opposition lawmakers, activists and academicians were on the Sarawak government’s ban list. The list included Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar (from PKR), Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad (Parti Amanah Negara), Seremban MP Anthony Loke (DAP), Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo (DAP), Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and PKR’s Dr Afif Bahardin.

 

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