Malaysian political cartoonist's travel ban a mistake, say police

The Malaysian government faced accusations of stifling dissent after a June 7 Facebook post by popular local political cartoonist Fahmi Reza Mohd Zarin, saying he had been banned from leaving the country.

- Lu Wei Hoong

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian government faced accusations of stifling dissent after a June 7 Facebook post by popular local political cartoonist Fahmi Reza Mohd Zarin, saying he had been banned from leaving the country.

Backbench MPs, analysts and the public said the ban was unwarranted. But on June 8, the police claimed it was a mistake, caused by "procedural confusion" in placing him on an observation list.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered the police to provide an explanation, stating that the government "respects personal freedom, provided it does not compromise national security or violate any existing laws".

In his Facebook post, Mr Fahmi said he was stopped at immigration at Kuala Lumpur International Airport while on his way to Singapore to see his favourite punk rock band.

He claimed an immigration officer told him that Bukit Aman - the Malaysian police headquarters had prohibited him from travelling abroad.

"I asked, 'Why?'" Mr Fahmi wrote on Facebook. "The immigration officer replied, 'You need to ask Bukit Aman'.

"What's my offence? 'Only the Bukit Aman police and the Malaysian government can answer'."

His post had garnered more than 19,000 reactions, 6,400 comments and 3,300 shares as at June 8.