Let travellers check entry status before flying to Sarawak, state govt urged

An advocates’ association has suggested that travellers intending to fly to Sarawak be allowed to check whether they are barred from entering the state before purchasing a ticket.

Advocates Association of Sarawak president Gurvir Singh Sandhu said there was currently no way for travellers to check if they had been barred from entering the state.

Speaking to FMT, he said travellers should not have to find out that they have been barred only upon arrival at the airport.

“Allowing travellers to check whether they are allowed to enter Sarawak would not diminish the state’s immigration autonomy,” he said, adding that those barred from entering should be allowed to appeal.

Sarawak’s immigration autonomy is a protected, non-negotiable right enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the Immigration Act and the Federal Constitution.

Gurvir was commenting on the decision to bar Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman from entering Sarawak earlier this week. SAM said Meenakshi received no notice of the restriction and only learnt about it after arriving at Miri Airport.

Sarawak deputy immigration minister Gerawat Gala later said the state was not required under immigration law to give notice to those barred from entering.

He said he understood that a police report had been lodged against Meenakshi last May, although he was unaware of its contents.

Lawyer V Kokila Vani said police reports did not provide the state with legal grounds to bar anyone from entering Sarawak, particularly if the person had never been charged or convicted.

She said Sarawak authorities should clarify whether the May 2025 police report was the basis for banning Meenakshi and cite the provision in the Immigration Act that allowed them to do so.

Kokila, who is co-chair of the Bar Council’s government affairs committee, said Meenakshi should also be told who imposed the restriction, how long it would last and whether she could ask for a review.

She said the federal immigration department could help ascertain the reason for banning Meenakshi and liaise with the Sarawak authorities to ensure there was no mismatch between state and federal immigration records.

Human rights activist Jerald Joseph, who was previously barred from entering Sarawak without being told the reason, said the state should not ban people because of ideological or political differences.

He also said those prohibited from entering Sarawak should be able to appeal.

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