Repeated pattern: Activists demand accountability, answers over Sarawak’s entry ban on SAM president

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman’s ban from entering Sarawak has triggered backlash from human rights advocates, including those affected by similar restrictions.

Mandiri coordinator Wong Kueng Hui affirmed that civil society organisations have consistently argued that while Sabah and Sarawak’s immigration autonomy must be respected, a lack of accountability has proven “problematic” in the long run.

“There’s been a repeated pattern - look at when (former Bersih steering committee member) Mandeep Singh and (former activist) Adam Adli Abdul Halim (now deputy higher education minister) were prevented from entering Sarawak, just because they were upholding their rights as democratic citizens.

“It’s high time that we demand accountability from Sabah and Sarawak’s immigration authorities,” Wong told Malaysiakini when contacted.

He also noted that Mandiri member and Bersih steering committee member Alyaah Hani was earlier restricted from entering Sabah.

'Politically motivated'

In a statement to Malaysiakini, PSM secretary-general M Sivaranjani said that as an environmental rights organisation with an office in Sarawak, SAM’s work in the state is likely to be disrupted by the ban - to the detriment of those it champions.

“The ban on activists entering Sarawak is an act that violates the fundamental human rights of citizens regarding freedom of movement. 

“Such actions are politically motivated, affect democratic spaces, and demonstrate the arrogance of the Sarawak government,” Sivaranjani (above) said. 

Urging the Sarawak government to provide a reasonable explanation for the entry ban, she also pointed out similar restrictions were previously imposed on Bersih activists who were barred from entering Sabah.

On Sept 29, SAM’s central committee and its honorary secretary sounded the alarm over Sarawak refusing entry to Meenakshi after the latter arrived in the state at around 4.50pm that day.

Barred from entry without notice

Mageswari said Meenakshi’s IC was taken from her and she was asked if she was “involved in any case”, after which she was informed that a report had been lodged against her on May 21 last year. 

“(Meenakshi) was then asked whether she had received any letter from the Sarawak authorities. She had received no such letter, notice, explanation, or prior indication that she had been prohibited from entering Sarawak.

“Had she been informed of any such restriction, she would not have boarded the flight,” Mageswari (below) said.

Describing the ban as an “unacceptable and profoundly disturbing exercise of state power”, Mageswari said the incident raised serious concerns regarding procedural fairness. 

“As a Malaysian citizen and president of one of the country’s oldest environmental organisations, Meenakshi was denied entry without being informed of the reasons for the decision or afforded an opportunity to respond,” she said.

She emphasised that SAM’s decades-long work in Sarawak from its office in Marudi is rooted in supporting grassroots communities, particularly indigenous peoples, farmers, and fisherfolk to defend their territories, livelihoods, and environment from “destructive development”. 

“Every citizen has a right to freedom of movement. While Sarawak has powers relating to entry from other parts of Malaysia, such power is not a licence for arbitrary exclusion. 

“The federal government must not remain silent - the arbitrary exclusion of environmental and human rights defenders from a part of their own country strikes at democratic accountability, civic space, and the public’s right to speak out on environmental destruction and the rights of affected communities,” Mageswari added. 

Besides pressing for a revocation of the restriction, she also called on the Sarawak government and relevant immigration authorities to state the precise nature, source, and legal basis of Meenakshi’s barring. - Mkini