Three other Bersih activists have been barred from entering Sabah, with the electoral rights group sounding the alarm over a supposedly “worrying precedent” for civil society organisations in Malaysia.
In a statement today, Sabah Bersih vice-chairperson Fadhil Kasim said its advocacy officer Anas Nor’azim was informed that he was restricted from entering Sabah upon arriving at the Tawau Airport earlier in the day.
Bersih steering committee chairperson Faisal Aziz and committee member Alyaah Hani were also informed today that they have been barred from entering Sabah since June 30 - the same day Bersih director Asraf Sharafi Azhar was deported to Kuala Lumpur due to a similar ban.
Fadhil (above) said that while Bersih recognises Sabah’s immigration autonomy rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, every exercise of power must come with responsibility, transparency, and accountability.
“The major question is: what are the basis and reasons behind the restrictions against these activists?
“Today it is electoral reform activists, tomorrow it could be environmentalists, human rights campaigners, native land rights activists, academics, or journalists facing the same situation,” he stated.
What happened to freedom of speech?
He pointed out that within the Madani framework, the government emphasises the importance of freedom of speech, openness to differing views, and space for the public to offer reasonable criticism within the boundaries of the law.
Such principles, Fadhil added, should also guide the exercise of administrative power, including immigration decisions.
“If there are security or legal grounds for these restrictions, we believe they should be responsibly stated to the public,” he stressed.
Urging the Sabah government to provide an immediate explanation regarding the basis for the bans, Fadhil called for all "baseless restrictions” to be lifted and for all individuals to be allowed to enter and remain in Sabah peacefully and legally.
Malaysiakini has contacted the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department and the state’s Immigration Department for their response. - Mkini
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