The move by the Immigration Department to impose travel ban on those who criticise the government has been described by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as “outrageous and cruel”.

“We are descending into a dictatorship, not only being just a police state. Only a communist country ruled by a dictator imposes such rules,” Lim said at a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly today.

“It’s like countries in the Middle Ages, when there were no elections. Is Malaysia going to that level?”he asked.

“We should be progressing forward and not regressing,” Lim said in response to the ruling based on the immigration law, as stated by Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed yesterday.

Nur Jazlan said said the Immigration Department director-general has the power to stop a citizen from travelling overseas because overseas travel is "a privilege and not a right”.

He advised those who are vocal against the government to check with the Immigration Department on whether they are on a travel blacklist.

Lim urged the Home Ministry and Immigration Department to provide proper justification for the travel ban.

He cited the case of Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah, who was recently banned from travelling to Gwanju, South Korea, to receive a human rights award.

“What wrong has she done? Is accepting a human rights award from abroad wrong?,” Lim asked.

“Does it also mean that foreigners who criticise the government are not allowed to enter Malaysia?

“We should be moving forward to embrace the future, not regress. One should have every right to criticise the government, including Penang, and it is not an act of disloyalty.”