Lim Guan Eng Says He Was Blocked From Entering Sabah, Calls Out Double Standards
He was allowed in after being held for an hour due to “MACC directives”.
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DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng claims that he has been blocked from entering the state of Sabah, shortly after arriving at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
In a Facebook post, the former Finance Minister explained that shortly after he was granted a social pass at 11.54pm, he was held back by immigration officials for an hour who told him that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had put out a directive that barred his entry into the state.
As I was about to enter my car, an immigration officer told me to re-enter the airport. I cooperated and followed him to the immigration office. After waiting 20 minutes, I asked: What was the problem? They claimed that the MACC has set up barriers for my entry into Sabah. What is this? Isn’t this the power of the Sabah state government?
Lim Guan Eng via Facebook.
Lim then called it a case of double standards, as well as meddling into state affairs.
As entry into Sabah is governed by the state itself and not the federal government, the Bagan Member of Parliament questioned if this was an attempt by the federal government to meddle with state rights and power.
He then questioned if this was a case of double standards, pointing out that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was found guilty in court for corruption, but was allowed into Sabah without a problem.
Why am I barred from entering Sabah instead? Is this another case of double standards?
Lim Guan Eng via Facebook.
However, after waiting for another 30 minutes, he was allowed to enter Sabah. Lim remarked that he would ask Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal if he did not want him to enter Sabah.
MACC denies blockade directive
MACC chief Azam Baki told Malaysiakini that this was not true, and there is no domestic restriction on Lim’s movements.
He told the news portal that the court only impounded his passport so he cannot leave the country, but he can enter Sabah using his identity card (IC).
Lim is currently facing charges for allegedly seeking a bribe during his tenure as Penang Chief Minister in 2011 to help a company be appointed for the infrastructure works including the RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project.
He is also facing two graft charges, one for the undersea tunnel, and another involving businesswoman Phang Li Koon.
READ MORE: Lim Guan Eng Pleads Not Guilty To Graft Charges, Bail Set At RM1 Million
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