M’sians warned: Criticise country and your passports may be seized

KUALA LUMPUR — Defending a decision by Malaysia’s Immigration Department to block people who ridicule the government from leaving the country, Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said on Wednesday (May 18) that passports allowing Malaysians to travel are a privilege and not a right.

He said the law stipulates that passports are issued at the discretion of the department’s director-general.

“The power to allow people to go in or out of the country is with the director-general. And he also issues the passport, which is actually a privilege, not a right. So, when they carry out their duties, they carry out the duties with the interest of the nation in mind,” he said.

Malaysia has barred several politicians and activists from travelling abroad recently, with the latest being Ms Maria Chin Abdullah of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0), who was stopped on Sunday from flying to South Korea to receive a human rights award for the electoral reform group.

The Star on Wednesday reported Malaysia Immigration Department director-general Sakib Kusmi confirming that there is a new ruling to stop Malaysians who ridicule the government from travelling overseas.

The daily also quoted a source saying that the ruling was introduced a few months ago, and that the overseas travel ban for a period of three years will also be imposed on those who discredit the government overseas, when they return to Malaysia.

The same source reportedly said the new ruling also imposes a two-year overseas travel ban and inclusion on a special blacklist for Malaysians found working overseas without a valid permit or deported for overstaying their time in another country, or who had committed a crime. 

The department’s latest move had created a backlash from opposition politicians and activists, with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng urging the federal government to explain the reason for banning government critics from leaving the country, noting that “only communist countries, dictatorships and countries without democracy” stopped critical citizens from travelling abroad.

“Why was this not announced? Putrajaya must fully explain this. Was it approved by the Cabinet? We want to know is the Home Minister aware of this? We want the Deputy Prime Minister to explain this,” he said.

However, Mr Nur Jazlan said what is deemed as an insult or ridicule is based on the Constitution’s ­interpretation of offensive words and ­behaviour. The public’s response to the insult would also be taken into account before any decision on travel restrictions is made, he added.

He cited as examples the Facebook postings and comments by individuals such as controversial sex blogger Alvin Tan, as well as comments and insults that hurt religious sensitivities.

“If we feel that (it) is considered as insulting the country, then we can take action. We measure against the Constitution. If it is insulting religions, races, it can be considered insulting the country,” he added.

However, Mr Nur Jazlan said there were “not many” who were barred from leaving the country for this reason, and that individuals were mostly barred for criminal involvement and involvement with ongoing cases with the police. MALAY MAIL ONLINE