Nurul barred from Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah Anwar (pic) and Tian Chua are now persona non grata in Sabah following the passing of a special motion in the State Assembly to bar the two from entering the state.

The motion was passed after both of them met a family member of the Sulu intruders who attacked the state in 2013.

All 47 Barisan Nasional assemblymen present backed the motion, while seven PKR and DAP assemblymen in the 60-member House voted against it.

However, Sabah DAP secretary Dr Edwin Bosie (Kepayan), State Reform Party (STAR) Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Bingkor) and Movement for Reform Sabah (APS) Datuk Wilfred Bumburing (Tamparuli) abstained.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said that the assemblymen had voiced their strong feelings against the meeting of the two Opposition leaders with Jacel Kiram, the daugher of self-proclaimed “Sulu Sultan” Jamalul Kiram III in Manila earlier this month.

Jacel’s late father Jamalul had ordered his younger brother Agniemuide to launch an intrusion in Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu in February 2013.

Ten policemen and soldiers were killed in the ensuing skirmish.

Musa told the House that the state government took seriously the activities of irresponsible people who had conspired with militants, who are enemies of the state.

“We strongly condemn these people who try to undermine our security and sovereignty, particularly when it involves Sabah,” he said in his winding-up speech on the motion.

“The Opposition’s actions have insulted the people of Sabah and insulted the sacrifices of the security forces in defending Sabah.”

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan, who tabled the motion, called for an investigation and for legal action to be taken against the two leaders for meeting Jacel.

He added that their meeting was an affront to the state’s sovereignty and disrespected the sensitivities of the Sabahans.

Tian Chua was banned from entering Sabah in April 2013 and 2014, while Nurul Izzah was briefly barred from entering the state in May 2013.

The power to bar non-Sabahans from entering the state rests with the Chief Minister.