2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Explain Fahmi Reza's travel ban, activist urges govt, cops
Wong Kueng Hui, director of the rights group Mandiri, called for the blacklist to be lifted immediately.
PETALING JAYA : The government and the police were urged today to explain the travel ban imposed on satirical graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza, who was prevented from taking a flight to Singapore this morning.
Citizenship rights activist Wong Kueng Hui said Fahmi was barred from leaving the country on the orders of Bukit Aman (federal police headquarters) without any clear justification given.
Fahmi was not a criminal but merely an artist who has been outspoken in criticising the government through his satirical artworks, said Wong, a Muda member who is coordinator of the Mandiri human rights organisation.
He said in a statement: 'Mandiri stands in complete solidarity with Fahmi and calls for the blacklist to be lifted immediately and for the government to guarantee the people's right to freedom of movement, which is provided for under the law.'
Wong, a Sabahan, was formerly declared stateless but finally received his MyKad in 2023 after 16 years of applying for Malaysian citizenship. He is active in championing the rights of stateless people.
Earlier today, Fahmi said he was stopped by immigration officers before boarding a flight to Singapore, and informed that he was blacklisted. He said an immigration officer told him that the police had barred him from leaving the country.
DAP Youth chief Woo Kah Leong also criticised the travel ban, saying it was uncalled for and would tarnish the reputation of the Madani government.
Fahmi was denied entry into Sabah on May 29. He was arrested by Sabah police earlier this year in an investigation into one of his satirical works, depicting Sabah governor Musa Aman, which was later deemed to be seditious.
