Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah was barred from entering Sarawak this morning, making her the fourth leader from the polls watchdog movement deported from the Borneo state.

She was held up at Kuching airport by Immigration officers when she arrived from Kuala Lumpur at 9 this morning.

"They said this was an order from the state government and if I want to enter Sarawak again, I must write a letter to the Chief Minister's Office," she said when contacted this morning.

NONEMaria was there to meet local Bersih 2.0 activists for the launch of its Jom 100 campaign, aimed for a 100-percent voter turnout at the 13th General Election.

Maria said that her deportation was an attempt to stop Bersih steering committee members from going to Sarawak to monitor the upcoming general elections.

"If the state government has nothing to hide, why is it banning our members?" she asked.

"This also violates my right to association."

Fourth Bersih leader deported

In April last year, the movement's co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and steering committee member Wong Chin Huat and former steering committee member Harris Ibrahim were also stopped from entering the state.

Ambiga subsequently challenged the deportation and failed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in August last year.

Maria, who upon arrival at the airport was immediately taken by immigration officers, was also denied access to a lawyer.

"My lawyer was waiting outside but they refused to let him meet me, they said I can meet a lawyer when I returned to Kuala Lumpur," she said.

She added that she will be consulting her lawyers before deciding on further action.

Taib abuses his powers

Maria was deported on an AirAsia flight to KL at 11.55am with her own return ticket.

Meanwhile, Bersih 2.0 steering committee has condemned the alleged abuse of power by the state government.

"Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has abused the immigration control power rested in the hand of the state governments which is meant to prevent economic transmigration but not political and social integration between East and West Malaysia.

"Section 67 of the Immigration Act clearly protects the right of a citizen entering East Malaysian state for the sole purpose of engaging in legitimate political activity."