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Malaysians should speak up to oppose Najib’s plan to turn Malaysia into a national prison where critics and opponents of the Prime Minister and Government are prohibited from travelling freely overseas

Yesterday, I had asked whether there will be any Minister who will resign on a matter of principle if the Cabinet today is not prepared to countermand the arbitrary and undemocratic ban on Bersih Chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and DAP National Publicity Secretary and MP for PJ Utara, Tony Pua from free travel overseas.

I have not heard of any news that any Minister or Deputy Minister is resigning his or her post in protest against such lurch towards undemocratic and arbitrary practices which have so far been the hallmark of communist and closed societies, representing a major and fundamental difference with democratic and open societies.

Is Malaysia an open and democratic society or has it regressed to become an autocratic and closed society like the North Korean communist regime?

This is a policy question which should involve every Minister and Deputy Minister in view of the “hair-raising” undemocratic and arbitrary decisions to bar critics and opponents of the Najib government like Maria Chin and Tony Pua from free travel overseas.

The Malaysian Parliament itself has become a farce if MPs like Tony Pua and civil society leaders like Maria Chin could be denied their fundamental and democratic right to travel freely overseas.

Malaysians should speak up to oppose Najib’s plan to turn Malaysia into a national prison where critics and opponents of the Prime Minister and Government are prohibited from travelling freely overseas.

All Barisan Nasional Ministers and Deputy Ministers, including the Deputy Home Minister, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed must be told in no uncertain terms that the issuance of a passport is a fundamental right conferred by Malaysian Constitution, and not just a privilege which is subject to arbitrary denial or withdrawal, depending on the whims and fancies of the powers-that-be.

Suhakam should give the entire Cabinet a primer on human and constitutional rights of Malaysians, as the Cabinet seems to be one of the bodies in the country which is woefully ignorant about the Malaysian Constitution and human rights.

(Speech at the DAP Pekan Nenas anniversary dinner at Pekan Nenas, Johore on Friday, 20th May 2016 at 10.30 pm)

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6 Replies to “Malaysians should speak up to oppose Najib’s plan to turn Malaysia into a national prison where critics and opponents of the Prime Minister and Government are prohibited from travelling freely overseas”

  2. Its an exaggeration to say Najib has created a national prison for his critics and opponents BUT what is dangerous and damaging is the fact what he has done is COMPLETELY ARBITRARY – ITS AN INSANE SYSTEM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW SUBJECT TO WHIMS AND FANCIES OF PRIVILLEGED FEW WHO ARE ALREADY UNQUALIFIED FOR THE PRIVILLEGE..

    There is no Rule of Law, THERE IS NO REAL SYSTEM, NO REAL PRINCIPLE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVT EXCEPT SHEER BRUTE FORCE, AND ABUSE OF PEOPLE AND POWER. PUBLIC ORDER right now is a matter of habit and microcontrol of trusted people.. ITS INSANITY. ITS STUPID. ITS IDIOTIC. NO ORGANISATION SHOULD BE RUN THIS WAY MUCH LESS A COUNTRY..

    IT SAY IT NAJIB IS STUPID STUPID MAN AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM ARE ALSO STUPID STUPID PEOPLE..

  3. I am no great politician or lawyer, but can someone tell me why no one has challenge this arbitrary ban from travelling abroad in the court of law. It appears to me that this ban is wrong, that holding a passport is a fundamental right to all citizens and not a privilege and that travelling abroad is also our fundamental right, unless the immigration department can show reasons why. It is unacceptable to say that you cannot travel because of “Instructions from Putrajaya”. That is simply not good enough. Why does YB Tony and Maria Chin not sue the Immigration Department?

  5. Garang bcos he knew voters will continue 2 vote 4 UmnoB/BN
    Voters will continue 2 love n support him 2 lead d nation
    No believe? Just wait n C d results of d two coming buy erections

  6. The idea of preventing people from travelling overseas is simply draconian. There is no international norm on this except by Pariah states.

    A passport is NOT a document PERMITTING overseas travel. It is a document to allow entry into another country – therefore immigration policy must revolve around this concept.

    I believe a case can be made that preventing overseas travel is both:
    1) unconstitutional – against freedom of movement, and
    2) a form of false imprisonment, in which a tortious action can be brought against the Government of Malaysia for damages.

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