It defies logic and makes a mockery of PM Najib's 1Malaysia.
Physically, we cannot help it because West and East Malaysia are separated by South China Sea. Despite being part of Malaysia for 48 years, Sabah and Sarawak continue to control West Malaysians arriving into their jealously guarded territories. That a West Malaysian needs an international passport to travel to either Sabah or Sarawak is already bordering on ludicrousness. Yet, recently a group of foreign terrorists from The Philippines managed to slip into Sabah without hindrance and continued to be there for at least a couple of weeks before action was taken by joint Police and military forces. We seem better at controlling our own citizens unnecessarily.
Malaysia is well known for its affirmative action favouring Malays and Bumiputeras. Yet, Nurul, as a recently elected MP for the second time, who is a Malay and Muslim, is now denied entry into Sabah. Does that make sense to anyone?
On second thought, it does make sense in the light of recent statements by BN leaders which include, 'for those who are unhappy with the election rules, should migrate' or 'live in the jungle'. But one thing for sure, they are not solving problems but ignoring and avoiding them by all means.
Update (The Malaysian Insider):
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman refused to comment today on PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar’s deportation from the east Malaysian state yesterday.
Musa rushed to his car instead when approached by reporters at Umno’s headquarters in the Putra World Trade Centre here today.
Nurul Izzah was barred from entering Sabah yesterday upon arriving in Kota Kinabalu to celebrate Pesta Kaamatan, or the Harvest Festival, in her personal capacity.
Although the Sabah government has the statutory right to decide who enters the state, the country’s three professional bodies for lawyers - the Sabah Law Association, the Advocates’ Association of Sarawak and the Malaysian Bar - reminded the state government to “cease and desist” its ambiguous blacklisting of Malaysians without good reason.
“By deploying this drastic measure, the Sabah state government is flouting the guarantee of freedom of movement that is enshrined in Article 9 of the Federal Constitution, which provides that ‘every citizen has the right to move freely throughout the Federation’,” they said in a joint statement earlier today.
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