KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has the absolute power to decide who can or cannot enter the state, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic).
"For the record, the state government has absolute power to ensure who can or cannot enter Sabah," he said, without disclosing whether the state had issued an entry ban to Selangor-based businessman Datuk Albert Tei.
However, he said such a ban would only be applied after information is gathered from security officials and other related parties first.
Hajiji said this when asked to comment on Tei’s initial ban from entering the state upon arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport here on Monday (Sept 22).
Tei arrived for his ongoing corruption court case where he was charged for giving bribes totalling RM350,000 in relation to mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah.
During his case mention, along with two state assemblymen Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob of Sindumin and Tanjung Batu assemblyman Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy on Tuesday (Sept 23), his counsel had asked the court whether the ban order had come from the MACC.
His lawyer Edward Paul had said that the notice of ban came into effect in August but they were only told about it when Tei arrived at the airport after the investigating officer contacted them.
He said the reason Tei was allowed in was because of this proceeding, while expressing concern about Tei’s right to bear his defence for this case.
