KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan GE15 candidate RSN Rayer was denied entry into Sarawak at Kuching International Airport on Wednesday (Nov 16).
The incumbent Jelutong MP had taken a flight from Penang but was barred from entering when he arrived at 5pm.
He was scheduled to be a part of a talk at Batu Kawa, Kuching together with two other candidates, Kelvin Yii and Chong Chieng Jen at DAP’s service centre.
When contacted, Rayer said the Sarawak Immigration Department had informed him that there had been a notice issued which barred his entry into the state since 2016.
"That's what I was told. I was not even given a proper reason for why I have been barred from entering this state when I am as Malaysian as anyone else," he said.
Rayer said that he would now have to look for the next available flight back to Penang.
"This is frustrating. Imagine if there were no other flights available, then what would I be expected to do?" he said adding that he believed this was a case of discrimination towards opposition politicians.
“Is this what you call Keluarga Malaysia? Why can’t Peninsular Malaysians fly out to East Malaysia?" he questioned.
He added that it was upsetting and stressful given that flying from one end to the other was not an easy task.
"It’s tiring and honestly, I hope to get some answers on why this has happened," he said.
Yii added that while he respected the immigration autonomy that Sabah and Sarawak had, he said it was a clear abuse of the immigration system.
"This is unfair treatment and the Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg should address this situation," he said.
