Sarawak incumbent chief minister Adenan Satem's statement that DAP leaders Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang were let into Sarawak because they "behaved" smacks of authoritarian rule, PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jeyakumar said.

"I don't understand the word 'behave' as this is an untoward statement against Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang...

"There shouldn't be any threat of ban from entering Sarawak on any elected representative," Xavier told a press conference in Kuching today.

Adenan had on Tuesday reminded the Lims to behave themselves or risk deportation.

He also said would-be visitors to Sarawak, including politicians and activists, should "behave" if they want to be let in.

More than 40 opposition leaders and activists have been barred from entering the state.

Adenan defended it as the use of Sarawak's immigration autonomy in order to maintain harmony in the state.

Among those banned include PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, Selangor legislative assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh, electoral reform movement Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and journalist Clare Rewcastle-Brown.