Gerakan has urged the Sarawak state government to review its guidelines on the entry ban to the state, some of which are outdated and no more applicable on present time’s needs and changes.

Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said such “blanket ban”, especially on those cases which happened decades ago, should be lifted as the personalities and individuals were no more involved in their previous capacities.

Chang, who is also head of the party’s central bureau on human rights and law, said entry ban to the state should be only be confined to cases where state security and interests can be jeopardized.

“Gerakan concurs with the Bar Council’s call to the Sarawak state government to consider lifting the ban on Suhakam commissioner Jannie Lasimbang to the state as the ban on Jannie and other fact finders took place in 1994,” said Chang.

Chang said any ban on certain personalities and individuals to Sarawak should be viewed on a case-to-case basis.

“Of course, we agree that some personalities may be wearing many caps and representing different organizations but the criteria from stopping people to go to Sarawak should strictly be based on security reasons,” he said, adding that the person’s motives or agenda in wanting to enter the state will ultimately be known.

Chang also called on the Sawarak government to be transparent and tell the public the guidelines on restriction of movement in the state.

Bar Council vice-chairman Lim Chee Wee has urged the Sarawak authorities to disclose in a transparent fashion how such prohibitions were imposed.