Malaysia May Bar Overseas Travel for Those Who Insult Government
- Human rights activist prevented from going to South Korea
- Premier has made greater use of country’s Sedition Act
Visitors walk past the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, left, as Malaysian flags fly at half-mast at Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday, July 20, 2014. It should have been a time for celebration in the predominately Muslim country of Malaysia, as families prepare for festivities to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting period. Instead the country is in shock from a second air tragedy in four months.
Photographer: Brent Lewin/BloombergMalaysia has begun enforcing a law that allows authorities to bar citizens who insult the government from traveling overseas, the Star newspaper reported.
Under the law, Malaysians may be banned from going abroad for three years for discrediting or ridiculing the government, and immigration officials started applying the rule several months ago, the paper said, citing a person it didn’t identify. Sakib Kusmi, director general for the immigration department, confirmed the legal provisions to the paper. A spokesman for the authority didn’t immediately respond to a call seeking comment.