Deportee not a political target: Chan
Susan LoonePublished: Mar 27, 2001 4:29 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister George Chan denied that the deportation of a long-time resident Chinese educationist by the state's Immigration Department was due to his political activities.
In reply dated March 1 to a Feb 13 letter of appeal from deportee Tan Seng Hin, Chan said that he believed that the director of Immigration and the state authority must have considered all the relevant circumstances and factors before they made a decision.
"I feel that you are labouring under a mistaken assumption in thinking that someone could have been denied entry to Sarawak because of his legitimate political activities," said Chan in his letter.
"I shall endeavour to assist you, but I am not sure if my efforts could bring about the desired results for you," he added in the letter, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini today.
Tan, 61, was deported from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia by the state's Immigration department on Jan 6, after a two-week notice was served on him on the cancellation of his entry social pass under Regulation 11(8) of the Immigration Regulations 1983.
No reason was given for the deportation order, and Tan was also told that he would not be allowed to re-enter Sarawak.
Tan, his family and the Miri Hainan Association (MHA), of which he was secretary since 1995, had made various efforts in the past three months, for Tan to re-enter Sarawak, especially for the Chinese New Year festivities in January, but all were in vain.
Arbitrary decision
In his reply to Chan's letter on March 22, Tan said that he regretted that to date, neither the Immigration Department nor the state authority had indicated to him the "relevant circumstances and factors" leading to the issuance of the order to deport him from Sarawak.
"I have yet to know the reason why a 60-year-old pensioner like me was asked to leave my beloved home built by me after putting in more than 20 years of effort and hard work," the letter said.
"I am now forced to be separated from my family and have to live alone in West Malaysia. I deeply regret that I have been deprived of the opportunity to be heard, which is one of the cardinal principles of the rules of natural justice."
Tan also said that the 'arbitrary' action on the part of the Immigration Department and the state authority runs counter to the rule of law which is the cornerstone of any democracy. He urged Chan to use his good offices to render him the necessary assistance and convince the Immigration Department to allow him to return to his family in Miri.
Still in the dark
In his Feb 13 letter to Chan, Tan also stated that Miri Hainan Association president Jimmy Wee had informed him that Chan had responded to the association's request to assist him in gaining re-entry to Sarawak.
Tan said Chan had indicated to Wee that if he (Tan) appealed to the director of Immigration, due consideration will be given to him.
"Up to today, I am still in the dark as to why I was asked to leave Sarawak and refused re-entry when I have been staying in Sarawak for the last 23 years," said Tan, in his letter.
He added that there are numerous rumours circulating in Miri as to the possible reasons for the deportation that he would like to "categorically deny".
Chan said that during his stay in Sarawak, he had not committed any crime nor any offence.
He added that he was not a member of any political party nor had he been involved in any activities organised by any political party. He stressed that the only organisation he had joined was MHA in 1995.
Baseless allegations
Tan said there were allegations that he was at the Miri Airport to welcome Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and that there were photographs or videos to prove such allegations.
"I wish to categorically deny these baseless allegations against myself and sincerely hope that, if these were the basis of my being barred from Sarawak, investigation be carried out by your good office to verify the allegations otherwise it would be very unfair to cause me such injuries," he said in his letter to Chan.
Tan also denied allegations that he wrote numerous articles and press releases for the opposition or articles attacking the government.
He added that the only articles written by him are those related to the stand taken by MHA relating to Chung Hua Miri Secondary School and Riam Road Miri Secondary School, supporting the implementation of Chinese education in the schools.
He reiterated that those articles were written by him in his capacity as the secretary of MHA, reflecting the decision made by the committee after extensive discussion, and not the decision made by one person.
Related report:
In reply dated March 1 to a Feb 13 letter of appeal from deportee Tan Seng Hin, Chan said that he believed that the director of Immigration and the state authority must have considered all the relevant circumstances and factors before they made a decision.
"I feel that you are labouring under a mistaken assumption in thinking that someone could have been denied entry to Sarawak because of his legitimate political activities," said Chan in his letter.
"I shall endeavour to assist you, but I am not sure if my efforts could bring about the desired results for you," he added in the letter, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini today.
Tan, 61, was deported from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia by the state's Immigration department on Jan 6, after a two-week notice was served on him on the cancellation of his entry social pass under Regulation 11(8) of the Immigration Regulations 1983.
No reason was given for the deportation order, and Tan was also told that he would not be allowed to re-enter Sarawak.
Tan, his family and the Miri Hainan Association (MHA), of which he was secretary since 1995, had made various efforts in the past three months, for Tan to re-enter Sarawak, especially for the Chinese New Year festivities in January, but all were in vain.
Arbitrary decision
In his reply to Chan's letter on March 22, Tan said that he regretted that to date, neither the Immigration Department nor the state authority had indicated to him the "relevant circumstances and factors" leading to the issuance of the order to deport him from Sarawak.
"I have yet to know the reason why a 60-year-old pensioner like me was asked to leave my beloved home built by me after putting in more than 20 years of effort and hard work," the letter said.
"I am now forced to be separated from my family and have to live alone in West Malaysia. I deeply regret that I have been deprived of the opportunity to be heard, which is one of the cardinal principles of the rules of natural justice."
Tan also said that the 'arbitrary' action on the part of the Immigration Department and the state authority runs counter to the rule of law which is the cornerstone of any democracy. He urged Chan to use his good offices to render him the necessary assistance and convince the Immigration Department to allow him to return to his family in Miri.
Still in the dark
In his Feb 13 letter to Chan, Tan also stated that Miri Hainan Association president Jimmy Wee had informed him that Chan had responded to the association's request to assist him in gaining re-entry to Sarawak.
Tan said Chan had indicated to Wee that if he (Tan) appealed to the director of Immigration, due consideration will be given to him.
"Up to today, I am still in the dark as to why I was asked to leave Sarawak and refused re-entry when I have been staying in Sarawak for the last 23 years," said Tan, in his letter.
He added that there are numerous rumours circulating in Miri as to the possible reasons for the deportation that he would like to "categorically deny".
Chan said that during his stay in Sarawak, he had not committed any crime nor any offence.
He added that he was not a member of any political party nor had he been involved in any activities organised by any political party. He stressed that the only organisation he had joined was MHA in 1995.
Baseless allegations
Tan said there were allegations that he was at the Miri Airport to welcome Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and that there were photographs or videos to prove such allegations.
"I wish to categorically deny these baseless allegations against myself and sincerely hope that, if these were the basis of my being barred from Sarawak, investigation be carried out by your good office to verify the allegations otherwise it would be very unfair to cause me such injuries," he said in his letter to Chan.
Tan also denied allegations that he wrote numerous articles and press releases for the opposition or articles attacking the government.
He added that the only articles written by him are those related to the stand taken by MHA relating to Chung Hua Miri Secondary School and Riam Road Miri Secondary School, supporting the implementation of Chinese education in the schools.
He reiterated that those articles were written by him in his capacity as the secretary of MHA, reflecting the decision made by the committee after extensive discussion, and not the decision made by one person.
Related report:
View Comments0