Musa Aman FLOUTING the federal constitution: Rescind entry ban on Nurul - Bar councils

The three Bars of Malaysia — Sabah Law Association, Advocates’ Association of Sarawak and Malaysian Bar — deplore the denial of entry of Nurul Izzah Anwar, a Member of Parliament, into Sabah, upon landing in Kota Kinabalu on 30 May 2013, which was during the Pesta Kaamatan celebrations.

By deploying this drastic measure, the Sabah State Government is flouting the guarantee of freedom of movement that is enshrined in Article 9 of the Federal Constitution, which provides that “every citizen has the right to move freely throughout the Federation”.  Although the Sabah State Government has the statutory right to restrict entry, this power must be used sparingly, and only with justifiable cause.

The three Bars of Malaysia call on the Sabah State Government to immediately rescind the entry ban that it has imposed, and to cease and desist from resorting to such action without any justifiable cause.  We urge the Malaysian Government to take concrete measures to safeguard each citizen’s right to travel within his or her own land without hindrance.

G B B Nandy @ Gaanesh
President
Sabah Law Association 

Khairil Azmi bin Mohd Hasbie
President
Advocates’ Association of Sarawak

Christopher Leong
President
Malaysian Bar