Artist Fahmi Reza claims he's barred from leaving Malaysia
Graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza said he was stopped at KLIA 2 today while attempting to board a flight to Singapore to attend a punk rock concert. (Fahmi Reza pic)
PETALING JAYA : Graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza says he has been barred from travelling overseas.
In a Facebook post, Fahmi said he was stopped at KLIA2 today while attempting to board a flight to Singapore to attend a punk rock concert.
'I have been blacklisted and barred from travelling overseas,' he said in a Facebook post.
He claimed that an immigration officer told him that Bukit Aman federal police headquarters said Fahmi did not have clearance to travel abroad.
Fahmi said the immigration officer then escorted him out of the international departure area.
The artist, known for his political illustrations, criticised the lack of explanation from the authorities about his travel ban.
Fahmi, known for his satirical artworks and vocal criticism of political figures, was denied entry into Sabah on May 29.
A notice issued by the Sabah immigration department at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport cited Section 65(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 as the legal basis for the refusal.
Fahmi said he was immediately flown back to Kuala Lumpur after that.
Earlier this year, Fahmi was arrested by Sabah police to assist in an investigation into one of his satirical works. He was investigated under the Sedition Act for allegedly insulting the royal institution.
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