SARAWAK activist Peter John Jaban has called on state immigration authorities to clarify the reasons and procedures behind the denial of entry to Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman.
Raman was denied entry after arriving at Miri Airport on Sept 29. SAM said she arrived at about 2.40pm and was stopped by immigration officers after landing at about 4.50pm.
According to SAM, officers informed Raman that a report had been lodged against her on May 21, 2025. The group said she had not previously received a letter, notice or explanation regarding the matter.
Peter John said Sarawak’s immigration autonomy was an important safeguard under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), but argued that its exercise should remain transparent and subject to clear procedures.
He questioned why a report lodged more than a year earlier had only surfaced when Raman attempted to enter Sarawak, and whether the report had been investigated before the restriction was imposed.
Peter John also questioned the basis for restricting entry to activists who, he said, were engaged in peaceful environmental, Indigenous rights and human rights advocacy.
He said immigration restrictions could be justified where individuals posed a genuine threat through racial or religious hatred, violence, intimidation or serious social disruption, but argued that peaceful civil society activity should not automatically be treated as a threat to public order.
Peter John also pointed to Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which includes social inclusivity and environmental sustainability among its key pillars.
He said the treatment of civil society advocates should be consistent with those stated objectives, while calling for greater clarity over the standards used to determine who can be denied entry.
Sarawak Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala said there was no legal requirement to provide advance notice to individuals who had been barred from entering the state.
He said Sarawak’s immigration laws give the state authority to determine who may enter and to prevent specified individuals from entering.
Sarawak’s immigration autonomy is provided for under the constitutional arrangements governing Sabah and Sarawak and is exercised under the Immigration Act 1959/63. Malaysians from Peninsular Malaysia are required to obtain approval to enter Sarawak.
Peter John said Sarawak could protect its immigration autonomy while respecting legitimate civil society activity, adding that disagreement with activists should not automatically turn them into enemies of the state. ‒ Oct 1, 2026
