D-G has the power to bar Malaysians from leaving

SEPANG: The barring of Malaysians who discredit or ridicule the Government from leaving the country is under the discretion of the Immigration Department, said its director-general Datuk Seri Sakib Kusmi.

“The ban list is up to my discretion, based on the Act that gives the director-general the authority to do so, based on advice from the police and other enforcement agencies.

“For situations where the cases have not gone to court, if the police deem that the person is dangerous, we can take action,” he said.

He added the Immigration Department focused more on prevention.

“You can criticise but it must be positive criticism, not by saying that someone is not good.

“Some don’t even criticise but insult. This is worse,” he said, denying that the decision was based on political consideration.

The Star front-paged a story on May 18 that Malaysians who discredited or ridiculed the Govern­ment can be barred from travelling overseas for three years.

Sakib said then that the ownership of a Malaysian passport was a privilege and that the Government had the discretion to either issue, defer or revoke it.