Afdlin finds nothing funny with travel ban

Comedian says democracy means the public can speak up if something is wrong with the government.

PETALING JAYA: Actor and comedian Afdlin Shauki has criticised the authorities following reports that people who ridiculed the government risk being barred from leaving the country.

In a Facebook post, Afdlin said he did not agree with such a move and that the government should not pressure the public like mindless children.

“Mintak maaf, tapi bukankah demokrasi tu bermakna rakyat berhak bersuara jika ada yg tak kena dgn kerajaan?”
(“Doesn’t a democracy mean the public can speak up if something is wrong with the government?”)

He also questioned if the country was solely the right of the government, while also condemning the statement that the Malaysian passport was a privilege and not a right.

He said such a statement made it seem like the government was saying the people did not have a right as Malaysian citizens to own a passport and that it was a blessing from the government.

Afdlin was referring to Deputy Home Affairs Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed’s statement that the issuance of passports was a privilege and not a right.

“Kenapa sampai macam ni yb yb semua… Kenapa awak nak org membenci lagi kerajaan? Lepas ni apa pulak tetuan, bukankah kerajaan demokrasi tu adalah satu badan yg ditubuhkan untuk menjaga hal ehwal rakyat?”

(“Why must it become like this YB? Why do you want people to hate the government more? “What’s next? Isn’t the democratic government an institution to protect the interests of the people?”)

Afdlin reminded those in the government that they worked for the people and the government was not an organisation to scare and pressure the public.

Yesterday, news reports, citing sources, stated that Malaysians who discredited or ridiculed the government could be barred from travelling overseas for three years.

This new rule was announced following the barring of Bersih 2.0 Chairman Maria Chin Abdullah from leaving for South Korea to receive a human rights award recently.

Before this, those declared bankrupt, have legal cases against them or have yet to pay government loans, have been stopped from leaving the country.

Those who regularly lose their passports or commit offences overseas can also be temporarily barred from going overseas.