Protesters abroad may lose passports

Malaysians living abroad who participate in anti-government activities and activities to tarnish Malaysia's image may be barred from returning home.

According to Immigration Department director-general Alias Ahmad, his department is obliged to do so under Section 8 of the Immigration Act 1959/1963.

He said actions that can be taken include blacklisting those involved in such activities and cancelling their passports for a period of three to five years.

"We are waiting for Wisma Putra's report regarding Malaysians doing such things while abroad," he said, according to a report today byBerita Harian.

He was responding to the daily's question on actions to be taken against Malaysians studying abroad, who participated in demonstrations to protest against alleged fraud in the May 5 general election.

The daily claimed that some of these students had held the Malaysia flag upside down and issued seditious statements online to urge the overthrowing of the Malaysian government.

One such statement was allegedly made by a Malaysian living in Sydney calling for the murder of some Malaysian political figures.

In the past, there have been Malaysians - such as P Waythamoorthy - who have had their passports cancelled on similar grounds.

Waythamoorthy is now a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department.