Projek Sama questions Sarawak entry ban on environmental activist

Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama) has criticised Sarawak’s entry ban against Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman, saying the state’s immigration powers should not be used to shield politicians from environmental scrutiny.

The group urged the state government to immediately rescind the ban and establish clear and transparent guidelines for imposing entry restrictions on Malaysians.

"What is under question here is not the Sarawak state government's rightful immigration discretion under the law, but whether this discretion is exercised accountably, transparently, reasonably, and with integrity," it said in a statement today.

Projek Sama asserted that Sarawak’s special immigration autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and Immigration Act 1959/63 was intended to protect the socioeconomic interests and livelihoods of Sarawakians, not restrict legitimate civil society activities.

It further questioned the use of Section 66 of the Immigration Act, arguing that Section 67 provides an exemption for Malaysian citizens entering Sarawak for legitimate political activity.

Projek Sama said authorities should have informed Meenakshi (above) of the grounds for the ban given her advocacy work.

The group also raised concerns over the impact of such restrictions on Sarawak’s claims of being a leader in green energy, climate action and environmental, social, and governance standards.

Previously, Mandiri coordinator Wong Kueng Hui pointed to a "repeated pattern" of bans preventing peninsular-based activists from entering Sabah and Sarawak.

READ MORE: Repeated pattern: Activists demand accountability, answers over Sarawak’s entry ban on SAM president

On Sept 29, SAM’s central committee and its honorary secretary Mageswari Sangaralingam sounded the alarm over Sarawak refusing entry to Meenakshi after the latter arrived in the state at around 4.50pm that day.

Mageswari said Meenakshi’s IC was taken and she was asked if she was “involved in any case”, after which she was informed that a report had been lodged against her on May 21 last year.

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