Projek Sama questions Sarawak entry ban on environmental activist

An advocates association in Sarawak has proposed that travelers visiting the state should have the option to verify their entry eligibility before booking their flights. Gurvir Singh Sandhu, president of the Advocates Association of Sarawak, stated that currently, there is no mechanism for travelers to ascertain if they have been prohibited from entering the state until they arrive at the airport.

Sandhu argued that providing this information to travelers would not compromise Sarawak's immigration autonomy, which is protected by the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the Immigration Act, and the Federal Constitution.

Sandhu's comments came in response to the recent decision to prevent Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman from entering Sarawak. SAM revealed that Raman was informed of the restriction only upon her arrival at Miri Airport. Sarawak deputy immigration minister Gerawat Gala later explained that the state is not obligated under immigration law to notify individuals of their prohibition from entering.

He also mentioned that he was unaware of the contents of a police report lodged against Raman in May 2025. However, lawyer V Kokila Vani, co-chair of the Bar Council's government affairs committee, contended that a police report does not provide legal justification for barring individuals from entering Sarawak, especially if they have not been charged or convicted.

Vani suggested that Sarawak authorities should disclose whether the May 2025 police report was the basis for Raman's ban and cite the relevant provision in the Immigration Act that allows them to take such action.

Kokila also recommended that Raman be informed of the entity that imposed the ban, the duration of the prohibition, and the possibility of seeking a review. She emphasized that the federal immigration department could assist in determining the reason for Raman's ban and facilitate communication between the state and federal immigration authorities to ensure consistency in their records.

Human rights activist Jerald Joseph, who had previously been barred from entering Sarawak without being informed of the reason, advocated that the state should not restrict access to the region based on ideological or political disagreements. He also contended that individuals prohibited from entering Sarawak should be granted the opportunity to appeal the decision.