Baharuddin (centre) claimed that PKR’s chances of winning have improved since nomination day. — Picture by Raynore Mering

KUCHING, May 3 — Pakatan Harapan leaders in the state claimed they could not properly schedule their rallies for fear their national personalities may be barred from entering Sarawak to campaign.

Sarawak PKR election director Baharuddin Mokhsen alleged that sources close to the state government conveyed that none of the pact’s Malay leaders would be allowed into the state.

The state, along with Sabah, have autonomy over immigration matters and may prohibit non-residents from entering, even if they are Malaysian.

“I will be seeking clarification from the state secretary on this. We are unable to properly plan our ceramah because we are unclear about whether our top leaders from the peninsula can come in.

“We are hoping that leaders like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be able to come,” he told a press conference today.

Sarawak periodically bars entry to groups and individuals it deems to be disruptive to the state.

Among the latest to be banned was Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, who was expelled after arriving at the Kuching International Airport on April 8.

Other personalities banned included caretaker Selangor mentri besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, former Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, and lecturer Ridhuan Tee Abdullah.

When it was pointed out that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng entered to campaign without issue days prior, Baharuddin claimed the state government was more concerned about personalities who could appeal to rural voters.

“The urban seats are of Chinese majority. They (the state government) want to stop our Malay leaders from coming in because they are worried about the rural seats,” he alleged.

“This (purported) ban is a good indication of Barisan Nasional’s fears of losing this election.”

Baharuddin later claimed that PKR’s chances of winning have improved since nomination day, purporting they could now win seven of the 15 seats contested instead of the previous four.

He said these were Puncak Borneo, Miri, Baram, Saratok, Bengoh, Lubok Antu and Selangau, where state PKR chief Baru Bian is contesting.

Baharuddin also criticised Parti Rakyat Sarawak president Tan Sri James Masing for saying that Baru, an Orang Ulu, should not contest in a seat with 90 per cent Iban voters.

“That is archaic thinking. Candidates should be chosen based on merit, not race,” he said.

Baru, who is also Ba’Kelalan assemblyman, is facing PRS newcomer Rita Insol.

In the 2013 general election, he had contested in the Limbang parliamentary seat where the Orang Ulu, a Dayak sub group, make up a large number, but was defeated.