Cops: Nurul's ban lifted, no new blacklist

The travel ban on PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar has been lifted, confirmed Sabah police today.

Sabah police commissioner DCP Datuk Hamza Taib did not elaborate on the reasons behind the lifting but also said that there were no other individuals declared in a Sabah state government’s persona non grata list.

“As far as the police are concerned, we know that there are no other individuals banned except for Nurul. But her ban was lifted," Hamza told Astro AWANI.

"For other leaders I think if they want to come in there is no problem as long as they follow the laws,” he added.

Meanwhile, Immigration Department director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad was unable to confirm that a purported new blacklist banning 11 opposition and civil society leaders from entering Sabah.

In a SMS message to Astro AWANI, he said: “I advise you to check with the Sabah Chief Minister’s office.”

Earlier today, a supposedly leaked letter from the Sabah Chief Minister’s Office addressed to the state Immigration Department listed that apart from Nurul Izzah, there were others who have been barred from entering the state.

According to the supposed letter, they included:

- Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

- Lim Kit Siang

- Mohd. Rafifi(sic) Ramli

- Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan

- Mohd. Sabu

- Syed Ibrahim Syed Noor

- Wong Chin Huat

- Mary Chin Abdullah (sic)

- Ong Boon Kiang

- Hishamuddin Rais

The document, dated May 21, signed off by one En. Moktar Yassin Ajam, who is the (state’s Secretary For Internal Affairs & Research) was sent to the director of the Sabah state immigration. It sported the letterhead of the chief minister, Datuk Musa Aman’s office.

When contacted, Moktar said he cannot confirm the contents of the letter. "I am sorry, I am a government servant. I cannot give you any statements, only the state government can. I am sorry," he said.

The letter said that the list was given the Sabah Cabinet’s stamp of approval following its first meeting on May 15.

“The Cabinet has agreed that the Chief Minister invoke his absolute powers under the Immigration Act and, in accordance with certification from the Sabah Royal Malaysian Police Special Branch chief, not to land these individuals to Sabah,” the letter said.

Malaysiakini reported that Sabah DAP chief Jimmy Wong as claiming that a reliable source from the Immigration Department leaked a copy to him.

Last Thursday, Nurul Izzah was barred from entering Sabah upon arriving in Kota Kinabalu. She was supposed to celebrate Pesta Kaamatan, or the Harvest Festival.

On May 31, the Sabah immigration department said that the ban on Nurul was a directive from the state government.

Later, Musa was reported as denying that the ban for Nurul was politically motivated. He however said that those who pose a threat to the Sabah ideals of peace and harmony will not be welcomed to the state.