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There are several reasons why you might not be allowed to go abroad…
One reason is that you demonstrate overseas.
Another reason: You did not repay your PTPTN loan.
Blacklisted! Are you one of the 1.14 million Malaysians?
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21 May 2016
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Malaysiakini
What laws being applied in travel bans, asks lawyer
Which specific law is the government using to ban people from leaving the country?
This is the basic question that has yet to be answered, said lawyer Syahredzan Johan.
As pointed out by many, including Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru, the right to travel abroad is a constitutional right guaranteed under Article 5(1) of the federal constitution, he said.
This, he added, is the interpretation of the law by the Apex Court in the case of Lee Kwan Woh v PP.
“The argument that the issuance of a passport is a ‘privilege’, and not a right is an obsolete interpretation based on a precedent – specifically the case of Goverment of Malaysia v Loh Wai Kong – which has been held to be ‘worthless as precedent’ in the said Lee Kwan Woh v PP.
“Thus, in order to restrict this fundamental right, it must at the very least be pursuant to a specific law,” Syahredzan explained.
There is no law as such that allows the Immigration director-general to restrict the travel of a citizen with a valid passport, he said, even on the bases that they have committed offence against the federal constitution.
‘Offence not yet proven’
Besides, he said, barring someone from travelling abroad when it has not been proven in court that they had committed an offence against the federal constitution is contrary to the principles of natural justice.
“The state would in essence be punishing a person before the person has a chance to defend himself or herself in court,” he said.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/342400
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Malaysiakini
Now deputy minister denies travel ban on gov’t critics
Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed has denied that travel bans would be imposed on government critics.
This was after The Star on Wednesday reported that the Immigration Department had made an internal ruling to bar those who criticised the government from travelling overseas.
Nur Jazlan said the travel ban is only against those who violated the federal constitution, according to a report in Oriental Daily.
“This includes those who are a threat to national security or have committed acts that violates the federal constitution – these are the legal basis that will get them barred from travelling overseas,” he was quoted as saying.
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“A passport issued by the Immigration Department is a privilege, not a right,” he was quoted as saying.
However, Nur Jazlan said anyone who are unhappy with their travel ban can challenge the matter in court.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/342367
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Zunar Cartoonist @zunarkartunis
Kartun Zunar: Sementara itu di IMEGRESEN MALAYSIA
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Kit Siang: Passport not subject to arbitrary withdrawal
It’s not a privilege and not subject to arbitrary denial or withdrawal, depending on the whims and fancies of the powers-that-be.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Parliament itself has become a “farce” if MPs like Tony Pua and civil society leaders like Maria Chin Abdullah could be denied their fundamental and democratic right to travel freely overseas, warned DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang in a statement.
The people should speak up to oppose Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s plan to turn the country into a national prison where his critics and opponents and that of the government are prohibited from travelling freely overseas, added Lim who is also Gelang Patah MP.
Lim has been left wondering whether Malaysia remains an open and democratic society or was regressing towards becoming an autocratic and closed society like the North Korean communist regime.
This is a policy question which should involve every Minister and Deputy Minister in view of the “hair-raising” undemocratic and arbitrary decisions to bar critics and opponents of the government, said Lim.
All Barisan Nasional (BN) Ministers and Deputy Ministers, including the Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed, should be told in no uncertain terms that the issuance of a passport was a fundamental right conferred by the Federal Constitution, stressed the DAP veteran.
“It’s not a privilege and not subject to arbitrary denial or withdrawal, depending on the whims and fancies of the powers-that-be.”
Lim thinks that Suhakam should give the entire Cabinet a primer on human and constitutional rights of the people. “The Cabinet seems to be one of the bodies in the country which is woefully ignorant about the Federal Constitution and human rights.”
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19 May 2016
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Lawyers for Liberty Amnesty International slams Malaysia’s travel ban https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/342056#.Vzz7rxe7D_c.twitter …
Amnesty International has slammed the Malaysian government’s plans to revoke or refuse to issue passports to critics, calling it as yet another demonstration of increasing intolerance in the country.
The rights watchdog noted news reports quoting Immigration Department director-general Sakib Kusmi saying that critics of the government could be denied the right to travel for three years.
“A travel ban on critics will mark a dangerous escalation in the government’s on-going crackdown on dissent,” said Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s deputy director for South-East Asia and the Pacific in a statement.
He argued that the right to freedom of speech and movement are key human rights which the Malaysian people deserve to enjoy just like any other people,
“In the last few years Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has continued to restrict freedom of expression, at times, even putting limitations on the free movement of individuals, and has detained a whole array of people, including human rights defenders, political activists and opposition politicians.
“This is giving rise to a climate of fear. The government’s plans will further shut down what is already an extremely limited space for civil society,” warned Benedict.
In recent years various activists and opposition politicians had been barred from traveling overseas. The latest to be slapped with the travel ban was Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah who was stopped from exiting the country while she was on her way to accept a human rights award.
Earlier today, Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed affirmed Sakib’s statement that the Immigration Department has the right to bar those who ridicule the government from leaving the country, based on immigration regulations.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/341917
https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/342056#.Vzz7rxe7D_c.twitter
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Afdlin finds nothing funny with travel ban https://shar.es/1dvcMh via @sharethis
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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.
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LATEST REASON
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Star
18 May 2016
Ridicule Govt and you can be barred
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians who discredit or ridicule the Government in whatever way can be barred from travelling overseas for three years.
Those who disparage the Government while abroad will also be barred from travelling abroad again for three years upon their return.
A source said that the Immigration Department had enforced this ruling several months ago in a move to safeguard the country’s image.
“Anyone who runs down the Government or‘memburukkan kerajaan’ in any manner will be barred from going abroad.
“Only the Immigration Department director-general will be authorised to look into their appeals,” he said, adding that the department would act once there was a request from enforcement agencies such as the police.
Immigration director general Datuk Sakib Kusmi, in an email reply to The Star,confirmed the existence of such a provision, adding that the ownership of a Malaysian international passport was a privilege and not a right.
“The Malaysian international passport is a travel document issued by the Government under the aegis of the Yang DiPertuan Agong.
“So, the Government has the discretion to either issue, defer or revoke the travel document,” he said.
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weehingthong 