GEORGE TOWN, July 23 ― Lim Guan Eng said today that Putrajaya’s move to ban DAP’s Tony Pua and PKR’s Rafizi Ramli from leaving the country could be the start of a new crackdown on the opposition by the federal government.

The DAP secretary-general claimed that the move could be because recent months have seen Barisan Nasional’s (BN) public support slip, large due to controversies affecting the administration like the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

“We know they Goods and Services Tax (GST) is hurting the people, the economy is in trouble due to 1MDB and they can't explain all these so they begin a crackdown,” Lim alleged.

The Penang lawmaker then condemned the travel ban imposed on Pua, Rafizi as well as Datuk Tong Kooi Ong, the owner of The Edge Media Group, and claimed that it was just a cover-up measure by the government.

“It's obviously an action that's trying to cover up the 1MDB scandal and also trying to stop anyone from exposing more about the scandal,” he told a press conference at the Tanjung City Marina here.

He said if Putrajaya wanted to stop anyone from leaving the country, the key players in the scandal should be the ones blocked instead of the whistleblowers.

“If you think they are not telling the truth, you can sue them in court but don't use the law to treat them like criminals,” he said.

Lim also called out the government for using different standards on the opposition and those allegedly implicated in the 1MDB controversy.

“Is this the type of country we are becoming, a police state where those who exposed corruption are in fear rather than those who are accused of corruption,” he said.

The Penang chief minister also urged Putrajaya to lift the travel ban.

Yesterday, Immigration officials stopped Pua from boarding a flight to Yogyakarta, Indonesia at Kuala Lumpur’s budget carrier terminal.

Shortly after, Rafizi said he has also been flagged, basing it on checks on the Immigration Department’s website.