THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) cancelled its annual meeting in Sarawak this week after one of its commissioners, who has been on the travel blacklist for 20 years, was barred from entering the state.

Jerald Joseph has been banned from Sarawak since 1998 but felt that as a public officer and official of the government, his movements should not be impeded.

“This is an ongoing struggle for so many years. I had hoped that things will change with a new government but obviously the fervour of changing the Malaysian landscape has not gone down yet to Sarawak,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Joseph said the ban could be because he was involved with a civil society group on the Bakun Dam campaign 20 years ago.

Suhakam has now taken up this matter with the Attorney-General’s Chambers for advice.

“We know that this is within the Sarawak state government’s powers, so we urge them to change its stand and allow the movement of Malaysians into the state.

“We hope that Putrajaya would also advise and work with Sarawak on this matter.”

Suhakam wrote to the chief minister’s office a month ago to request permission for him to attend the meeting.

“They replied 10 days ago that the request was denied.”

The decision caught Joseph by surprise as he was allowed into the state in the past two years for meetings.

“When I first came in as a commissioner in 2016, the late Adenan Satem was the chief minister then. He respected the role and function of the commissioner and he allowed me to attend the meeting in Sarawak.

“In 2017, there was a change of government where Abang Johari took over. At first, they said no, but after an appeal, they gave me a four-day visa to attend the meeting.”

Suhakam chairman Razali Ismail said they are disappointed with the travel restrictions on Joseph.

“Preventing him from entering Sarawak for scheduled meetings is impeding Suhakam’s statutory duty to promote and protect human rights in the state,” he said. – October 20, 2018.