Activist Fahmi Reza claims he was barred from leaving the country
KUALA LUMPUR: Activist and graphic artist Fahmi Reza claims he was prevented from leaving the country this morning after immigration officers at KLIA informed him that he had been blacklisted.
"Today, on my birthday and Hari Raya Aidiladha, I found out I've been blacklisted and barred from leaving the country," he said in a Facebook post earlier today.
In his post, he detailed plans for a short two-day trip to Singapore to attend a show featuring two of his favourite punk bands.
Fahmi said he arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) around 7.30am to catch a 9.35am flight and proceeded to the international immigration clearance counter, where he was directed to the immigration office.
He said the officer asked for his travel documents and destination, then requested printed copies of his boarding pass and flight ticket.
Despite showing digital versions on his phone, Fahmi claimed he was instructed to print physical copies himself, even though the office was equipped with a printer.
With just minutes left before boarding, an airport staff member assisted him by driving him to a nearby hotel to print the required documents.
Upon returning to the immigration office, Fahmi said he was informed that he had not been granted clearance to leave the country.
According to him, the officer said that Bukit Aman had not approved his departure but did not provide any further explanation. He was then escorted out of the departure area.
The New Straits Times has reached out to the police for comment.
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
No travel restrictions on Fahmi Reza despite airport detention, IGP confirms
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's top police official has confirmed that graphic designer and political activist Fahmi Reza faces no formal travel restrictions, following confusion at the airport that prevented his departure to Singapore. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain acknowledged that a procedural error occurred during immigration screening on the previous day, resulting in the activist being wrongly blocked from traveling. The incident unfolded when Fahmi attempted to catch a Singapore-bound flight from KLIA Terminal 2 to attend a punk music event. According to his Facebook post, airport immigration staff informed him that federal police headquarters had not authorised his international travel. Addressing the confusion in an official statement, Razarudin explained that while Fahmi's name appears on an internal monitoring database due to an active police inquiry, this does not constitute a travel prohibition. 'Our department has not implemented any formal travel restrictions against this individual,' the police chief stated. 'His inclusion on our monitoring system serves as an internal reference tool and represents standard law enforcement protocol.' The IGP emphasised that Fahmi remains free to travel internationally, provided he complies with immigration regulations and relevant legislation. Police officials are now examining the incident and plan to refine current procedures to prevent similar misunderstandings. Additionally, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also weighed in on the matter, directing police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the travel disruption. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting individual liberties while maintaining security and legal compliance. 'The current administration supports personal freedoms, provided they don't threaten national security or breach existing legislation,' the PMO declared, adding that police must provide additional clarification regarding the incident. The Prime Minister's Office indicated it will continue monitoring developments in this case.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
No Travel Ban on Fahmi Reza Despite Airport Stop
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's top police official has confirmed that graphic designer and political activist Fahmi Reza faces no formal travel restrictions, following confusion at the airport that prevented his departure to Singapore. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain acknowledged that a procedural error occurred during immigration screening on the previous day, resulting in the activist being wrongly blocked from traveling. The incident unfolded when Fahmi attempted to catch a Singapore-bound flight from KLIA Terminal 2 to attend a punk music event. According to his Facebook post, airport immigration staff informed him that federal police headquarters had not authorised his international travel. Addressing the confusion in an official statement, Razarudin explained that while Fahmi's name appears on an internal monitoring database due to an active police inquiry, this does not constitute a travel prohibition. 'Our department has not implemented any formal travel restrictions against this individual,' the police chief stated. 'His inclusion on our monitoring system serves as an internal reference tool and represents standard law enforcement protocol.' The IGP emphasised that Fahmi remains free to travel internationally, provided he complies with immigration regulations and relevant legislation. Police officials are now examining the incident and plan to refine current procedures to prevent similar misunderstandings. Additionally, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also weighed in on the matter, directing police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the travel disruption. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting individual liberties while maintaining security and legal compliance. 'The current administration supports personal freedoms, provided they don't threaten national security or breach existing legislation,' the PMO declared, adding that police must provide additional clarification regarding the incident. The Prime Minister's Office indicated it will continue monitoring developments in this case.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
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IGP: No official travel restriction on Fahmi Reza despite immigration confusion; name only on monitoring list
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Police today denied issuing a travel ban against activist Mohd Fahmi Reza Mohd Zarin, better known as Fahmi Reza, following claims he was prevented from leaving the country. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Fahmi's name had only been placed on a movement monitoring list as part of an ongoing investigation. 'There is no official travel restriction imposed on Fahmi Reza at this time,' he said in a statement. He explained that the monitoring list is used for internal reference and does not equate to an actual travel ban. 'There was confusion during an immigration check at an exit point on June 7, 2025, which resulted in an incorrect instruction being issued,' he added. Police are reviewing the incident and will take appropriate steps to improve existing procedures. Razarudin said the Royal Malaysia Police remain committed to upholding Malaysians' right to freedom of movement. He said Fahmi is free to travel in and out of the country as usual, subject to any relevant regulations set by the Immigration Department or applicable laws.
