The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has urged state governments to do away entry bans on individuals as such practices are “repressive”.

“Suhakam takes the position that no state in Malaysia should any longer ban Malaysian citizens from entry even if there are constitutional powers (to do so).

“As such actions are a remnant of past repressive practices,” its chairperson Razali Ismail said in a statement today.

Razali said he recognised how entry bans on several Pakatan Harapan politicians had now been lifted after they were appointed as cabinet ministers.

Towards this, he urged Sarawak to lift its entry bans issued against “several hundred” people, including one of Suhakam’s commissioners, Jerald Joseph.

“There are scores of Malaysians, reportedly in the hundreds, including Suhakam Commissioner Jerald Joseph who continue to be banned from entering Sarawak.

“Many of these individuals are critics of the state government who choose to speak up on many legitimate human rights issues in the context of international standards.

“Suhakam calls on the Sarawak state government to take the necessary steps to lift these entry bans,” he said.

Yesterday, Sarawak Immigration Department director Ken Leben said the state had lifted travel bans previously imposed on several previously opposition politicians who are now members of the federal government.

These were Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, who were all barred from entering the state.

Sarawak, like Sabah, has autonomy over its immigration affairs as prescribed in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).