Adenan welcomes motion to ban Umno from Sarawak

CM however makes it clear the motion would only go through if other peninsula-based parties like DAP, PKR, PAS and others are included.

KUCHING - Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem has agreed to back Kota Sentosa Assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen’s motion in the Assembly, banning Umno from the state, provided it includes other peninsula-based political parties like DAP, PKR and PAS, among others.

“As long as you (party) receive orders from Kuala Lumpur, you are not welcome in Sarawak,” said Adenan in the Sarawak Assembly, suggesting that Chong who is DAP Sarawak Chairman re-table the motion. “We welcome the motion provided it includes other parties besides Umno.”

“Don’t listen to all these Peninsular Malaysians politicking. That’s why I don’t want these people here. Sarawakians can better understand Sarawakians.”

The Chief Minister told the Sarawak Assembly that he’s throwing a cordon sanitaire, French for sanitary cordon, a reference to protecting Sarawak by keeping undesirable elements out. “We have the right, under immigration powers, to safeguard our unity by preventing racial and religious extremists from entering Sarawak.”

The list covers bigots, extremists and “troublemakers”.

He was referring to his decision to ban several politicians from the peninsula, all from the Opposition, from entering Sarawak. He has also banned two controversial personalities, Ibrahim Ali of Perkasa, and lecturer Ridhuan Tee.

Also among those banned are several Opposition MPs including Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang), Rafizi Ramli (Pandan), Tian Chua (Batu) and Teresa Kok (Seputeh) who has also been banned from Sabah.

Former PKR Secretary-General Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is also on the blacklist along with Negara-Ku Patron and former Bar Council Chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan and Maria Chin Abdullah, Chairman of the BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee.

Chong was suspended from the Sarawak Assembly last year after he challenged Housing Minister Abang Johari to table a motion to ban Umno from Sarawak.

Immigration is under the Federal List in the Federal Constitution. However, under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and 20/18 Points (Sabah/Sarawak), the Prime Minister can delegate his immigration powers to the Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak but only involving the issuance of work permits to Peninsular Malaysians wishing to work in Sabah and Sarawak.

Likewise, the Home Minister can delegate his immigration powers to the state secretaries in Sabah and Sarawak. The intention of the framers of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and 20/18 Points and the founding fathers in Borneo, on immigration, have never been tested so far in the Federal Court, sitting as the constitutional court.