{
  "id": 10732160,
  "title": "SAM demands answers after president barred from entering Sarawak",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/sam-demands-answers-after-president-barred-from-entering-sarawak",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T16:12:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1544231/sam-demands-answers-after-president-barred-entering-sarawak"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "GEORGE TOWN — The Malaysian environmental group, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), has expressed outrage over President Meenakshi Raman being denied entry into Sarawak. Raman, who touched down at Miri Airport at 2.40pm on Tuesday, was stopped by immigration officials at about 4.50pm upon landing. According to SAM, her passport was confiscated at the immigration checkpoint and she was questioned about her involvement in any legal cases. After about 15 minutes, it was revealed that a report had been filed against her as far back as May 21 last year. Raman was also asked if she had received any correspondence from Sarawak authorities regarding her entry restriction. However, SAM's honorary secretary, Mageswari Sangaralingam, noted that Raman had not received any prior notice or letter indicating she was barred from entering Sarawak. She emphasized that Raman, as a Malaysian citizen and head of one of the country's oldest environmental organizations, would not have boarded her flight had she been informed of any such restriction.\n\nSAM described the denial of entry as raising significant concerns about procedural fairness. Raman, a Malaysian citizen and head of one of the nation's oldest environmental organizations, was barred from entering without being informed of the reasons or offered a chance to respond. Mageswari stressed that Raman had been granted entry into Sarawak as recently as 2024. SAM has been actively working in Sarawak for decades, maintaining an office in Marudi and focusing on indigenous communities, farmers, fishers, and issues related to their territories, livelihoods, and the environment. While acknowledging Sarawak's jurisdiction over entry from other parts of Malaysia, Mageswari called for an explanation of the legal basis for the restriction, its nature and source, and an immediate revocation. She urged the federal government to respond, stating that the exclusion of environmental and human rights defenders could impact democratic accountability, civic space, and public discourse on environmental and community concerns.",
  "summary": "GEORGE TOWN: Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has condemned the denial of entry into Sarawak of its president Meenakshi Raman.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "SAM president denied entry into Sarawak, group demands answers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/sam-president-denied-entry-into-sarawak-group-demands-answers",
        "published": "2026-09-29T15:51:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}