Media Statement – December 4th 2015
Why is Hishamuddin Rais not allowed to leave the country?
It has come to our knowledge that late last night, our resource person and avid social activist, Hishamuddin Rais has been denied the right to leave the country.
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0) demands that the government of Malaysia provides the answer as to why has Hisham been barred from flying overseas.
Hisham, a well known social activist and writer, was scheduled to fly to Seoul on an invitation by Forum Asia via Korea’s People Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) to observe a peaceful assembly in Seoul City Plaza tomorrow.
The invitation was sent to BERSIH 2.0, and Hisham was indeed our representative.
Two others from the region were invited together with him, namely Chiranuch Premchaiporn (Executive Director, Prachatai Thailand) and Pimsiri Mook Petchnamrob (East Asia Programme Officer, Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development).
BERSIH 2.0 strongly feels that there is no reason whatsoever to deny him the freedom of movement, as entrenched in Article 9 of the Federal Constitution.
It is worrying that on the day Parliament passes the National Security Council Bill, a familiar ‘enemy of the state’ (for lack of better description) such as Hishamuddin Rais, is not allowed to leave the country for no apparent legal reason.
Meanwhile, individuals ‘hunted’ by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission in the investigations relating to financial scandals involving the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, are freely trotting the globe.
Thus we demand that the government explains itself, lest such arbitrary act on the part of the government be a signal of worse things to come vis a vis the NSC Bill.
Issued by,
The Steering Committee of BERSIH 2.0, which consists of –
Chairperson: Maria Chin Abdullah; Deputy Chairperson: Sarajun Hoda Abdul Hassan; Treasurer: Masjaliza Hamzah; national representatives: Assoc. Prof. Dr Abdul Halim bin Yusof, Farhana binti Abdul Halim, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri and New Sin Yew; vice-chairpersons: Jannie Lasimbang (Sabah), Ahmad b. Awang Ali (Sarawak), Abd Halim b. Wan Ismail (East Peninsula), Thomas Fann (South Peninsula), Simon Lee Ying Wai (Central Peninsula) and Dato’ Dr Toh Kin Woon (North Peninsula).