THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has called on the Sarawak government to unbar hundreds of Malaysians, including one of its commissioners, from visiting the state. 

Chairman Razali Ismail said it had been noted that several cabinet ministers who were barred were now allowed to enter the state by virtue of their appointment, but many more were still persona non grata in Sarawak

“There are scores of Malaysians reportedly in the hundreds, including Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph, who continue to be barred from entering Sarawak.

“Many of these individuals are critics of the state government who choose to speak up on many legitimate human rights issues, in the context of international standards,” he said in a statement today. 

The Sarawak government previously said the state would review the immigration blacklist. Three federal ministers were on the list – Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, and Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraidah Kamaruddin.

Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli and Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown are also barred.

Razali said no state in Malaysia should ban a Malaysian citizen from entry even if it had the constitutional powers to do so because such action was a remnant of a repressive past.

“Suhakam calls on the Sarawak government to take the necessary steps to lift the entry ban,” he said. – May 25, 2018.