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LYRICS | It’s the same old story: never tell the truth! Often times, the media are blamed that so-and-so was misquoted or was not.
Either we have journalists who apparently cannot report accurately or we have politicians who cannot say what they want to say. Very often, the problem comes from politicians. But they will strenuously deny that they are responsible.
Be that as it may, in this last episode we have another example of how to pass the buck. On September 1, DAP Secretary General Lim Guan Eng landed at Sabah airport and was cleared by immigration. When he was about to get into a car, a senior official from the Immigration Department stopped him and asked him to return to the airport. Naturally, Lim cooperated.
After about 20 minutes, when he wanted to know what was happening, according to him, immigration officials informed him that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had prohibited him from entering the state.
This is a total shock to Malaysians who are aware of the entry conditions of Sabah and Sarawak when the territories were joined with Malaysia. They have full control over who enters and leaves these states. Those wishing to enter must obtain an authorization pass, and Lim actually received a social visit pass from immigration.
Since Sabah has the exclusive authority to control those who enter Sabah, no other authority has the right to impose any restriction regarding entry to Sabah.
By the time Lim arrived at the Sabah airport, there were no restrictions for him. In fact, Acting Chief Minister Shafie Apdal was shocked, and I was also shocked, I must add, that Lim was unable to enter Sabah.
Shafie revealed that since the change of government after the May 2018 general election, the state had lifted previous bans imposed on various political personalities from entering the state. The BN government unfairly imposed these bans on opposition politicians.
“When I took over as prime minister, after two days, I signed (the order) to exclude them (from the ban list),” Shafie said.
So, there was no ban on Lim. So why did the Immigration Department act to deny him entry? By what authority did they initially act to prevent him from coming to Sabah?
It is true that Lim faces corruption charges. We all know that he has been a target and has recently been charged with three counts of alleged corruption.
If corruption was the excuse for denying entry, then explain how a convicted criminal such as former President Najib Abdul Razak and Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, facing a number of corruption charges, were able to freely enter and leave Sabah. Doesn’t it smell like double standards?
Now, let’s tackle the mystery of with what authority the Department of Immigration acted.
According to Lim, immigration officials informed him that MACC had barred him from entering the state.
This claim is credible. Without instruction, immigration could not have acted.
Surprisingly, the MACC and the Department of Immigration ignored the fact that they had no authority to prevent anyone from entering Sabah. However, they acted illegally and carelessly.
But wait, there is more mystery! However, when you contact him MalaysiakiniMACC chief Azam Baki said this was not true.
“There is no domestic (restriction). The court only confiscated your passport so that you cannot leave the country. You can enter Sabah using your IC,” Azam said. Malaysiakini in a text message.
So who doesn’t tell the truth? This cannot be allowed to rest without getting to the bottom of the truth. Someone had acted illegally. We need to identify this culprit and he must be punished for acting beyond his authority. Let heads roll, if necessary, in the interests of truth and justice.
Consider the saying: “Where law ends, tyranny begins.”
The opinions expressed here are those of the author / contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
