PKR vice-president Tian Chua visits Sabah after lifting of ban

PENAMPANG: Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) vice-president Tian Chua said yesterday he was delighted to be able to set foot on Sabah soil after a ban on his visit to the state since 2015 was lifted when the new state government took office.

He said he was grateful to new Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal for removing his name from the Sabah Immigration Department blacklist, along with the name of another PKR vice-president and Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

“I arrived in Kota Kinabalu yesterday ( Wednesday) and attended a Kaamatan programme in the morning and, today (yesterday), I’m here again to attend the climax of the Kaamatan Festival,” he said when met by reporters here.

Tian Chua, who is former Batu MP, also said he would be taking the opportunity during his visit here to personally thank Mohd Shafie for lifting the ban and extend assistance to the new state government in strengthening its ties with the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

In November 2015, Sabah State Legislative Assembly passed a motion to ban Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua from entering Sabah following a meeting between the two PKR vice-presidents with Jacel Kiram, the daughter of the selfproclaimed Sulu Sultan, Jamalul Kiram, who ordered an armed intrusion in Lahad Datu in February 2013. — Bernama