Fong Pau Teck urged the Sarawak state government
to lift the entry ban on an elderly man who
poses no threat to national security
to lift the entry ban on an elderly man who
poses no threat to national security
Reported by: Yong Chee Chan (Kuching 12/11/2014)
 |
| Pujut Assemblyman, Fong Pau Teck (File picture from Internet) |
Pujut Assemblyman YB Fong Pau Teck urged the Sarawak Government to review the prohibition order against Mr. Tan Seng Hin (Editor's note: Tan Seng Hin is one of the Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee members), a Malaysian senior citizen who was born in Malacca. Tan had been staying in Sarawak for 23 years before he was deported and forbidden to enter Sarawak.
YB Fong in his speech during the Sarawak state assembly held recently (11/11/2014 - 20/11/2014) revealed that Tan was barred from entering Sarawak to cast his vote during the General Election 2008. In Feb 2014, Tan was denied entry again to witness his son’s wedding ceremony.
“It is ridiculous to bar visitors especially citizens of our own country to enter Sarawak through proper immigration channel without giving any reason,” said Fong, the Pujut Assemblyman.
“The deportation and forbidden order against Tan to enter Sarawak has apparently contradicted Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” said Fong.
“Under 67c of the Malaysia Agreement, even politicians are allowed to enter Sarawak for political campaign.” Fong continued, “The Rukun Negara indoctrinated citizen to respect and obey the law and constitution. However, it is ironic that the state government has demonstrated a bad practice, showing no respect to the law and constitution of the state of Sarawak.”
Fong challenged the state government to announce the reason to ban Tan from entering Sarawak.
“Even a prisoner has the right to know his conviction,” said Fong.
Fong used a Malay proverb “Berani kerana benar” to describe Tan as a brave man, because Tan challenged the arrogant prohibition order by entering Sarawak repeatedly. Fong used another Malay proverb “takut kerana salah” to lampoon the state government for being guilty as the reason to deny Tan from entering Sarawak is obviously an incredibly weak answer. Therefore the Sarawak government never dare to announce the reason.
Meanwhile, Fong challenged the state government to charge Tan in court if the state government has any concrete evidence showing that Tan had committed any crime.
“To protect the safety of the people is to arrest those who committed crime but not expel them to other state,” Fong added.
Content of Fong’s speech regarding Tan’s issue is as follow:
IMMIGRATION POWER OVER AN INNOCENT ELDERLY MAN
Tuan Speaker,in year 2001, the Sarawak immigration had deported a senior citizen, named Mr. Tan Seng Hin without giving any reason. Mr Tan, who is now about 74 years old, who was born in Malacca, had been staying in Sarawak for the 23 years since 1978 till 2001.
In the year of 2008, he was forbidden to enter Sarawak to cast his vote during the general election. 2008.
In Feb 2014, Mr.Tan was forbidden again to enter Sarawak to witness his son’s wedding ceremony.
Tuan Speaker, it is ridiculous to forbid visitors especially citizens of our own country to enter Sarawak through proper immigration channel without giving any reason. The government could easily monitor his movement through the information that he provided to the immigration department.
The above deportation and forbiddenness to enter Sarawak has apparently contradicted Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that:
(1) Everyone has the right and freedom of movement and residence within the borders of his/her own nation.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country (including his own country) and to return to his country.
The Rukun Negara indoctrinate citizen to respect and obey the law and constitution. However, it is ironic that the State Government Agency has demonstrated a bad practice, showing no respect to the law and constitution of the state of Sarawak.
Under Article 67C of the Malaysia Agreement, even politicians are allowed to enter Sarawak for political campaign, I don’t see any reason why the state government has to ban Mr. Tan to enter Sarawak.
I hereby call upon the government to review the prohibition order against Mr. Tan Seng Hin. Malay proverbs says, “Berani kerana benar, takut kerana salah”. Even a prisoner has the right to know his conviction. If the state government has any concrete evidence or reason to ban Mr.Tan Seng Hin from entering Sarawak, the reason should be announced so that the person concerned and even the public would be convinced.
If the government has any concrete evidence showing that Mr.Tan had committed any crime, he should be charged in court instead of misusing the immigration power to ban him from entering Sarawak. To protect the safety of the people is to arrest those who committed crime but not to expel them to other states.
Since there is no any evidence or whatsoever threat to our government, If the government still insists to ban Mr. Tan from entering Sarawak without giving any reason, it would only give the public an impression that the state government is oppressing an helpless innocence old man!
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