'Outspoken' M'sians told to check travel status

Kuala Lumpur: 'Vocal' Malaysians should check their traveling status with the Immigration Department first before making any trips overseas, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed. "For example like the issue of (Bersih 2.0 chairman) Maria Chin, she should have checked with the Immigration Department to see if she was still barred from leaving the country or whether it (the restriction) had been lifted," he said Wednesday.

Not many citizens had been barred from leaving Malaysia for insulting or defaming the country.

Malaysians who discredit or ridicule the Government in whatever way can be barred from travelling overseas for three years.

Those who disparage the Government while abroad will also be barred from travelling abroad again for three years upon their return.

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The Immigration Department had enforced this ruling several months ago in a move to safeguard the country's image.

There were also other reasons for such restrictions, such as requests from the police for involvement in cases being investigated or other reasons such as bankruptcy.

When asked how the government determined if a statement was defamatory to the country, Nur Jazlan said it was based on the discretion of the Immigration Department director-general.

"Some people do things individually; it does not affect people directly but has an effect on the country's image.

There are some people who do things with the deliberate intention to bring down the country's image and reputation", he added.

"We look at those people who collectively do harmful things to the country. Those are the ones that we will take action on," he said, citing blogger Alvin Tan as an example.

The decision, he said, depended on the reaction from the general public.

"All I am saying is, the power to go in and out of the country is at the discretion of the Immigration DG and he also issues the passport – which is actually a privilege, not a right.

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"So they carry out their duties with the interest of Malaysia in mind," he said.

On Sunday, Chin learned she was barred from leaving the country when she was about to fly off to South Korea to receive a human rights award.

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