The imposition of a three year travel ban overseas on those said to run down the government is undemocratic, ridiculous and totally unacceptable.
The undemocratic move, which is a violation of every citizen’s right to travel abroad, has also proven what a desperate government is prepared to do to protect its interest in the name of protecting the country’s image.
But such high handed and unjust move , instead of protecting the nation’s image , is actually hurting the nation’s image as it will make Malaysia a laughing stock in the international media and result in a dip in the nation’s international image.
Going by the government leaders’ past records of narrow and ridiculous interpretation of what constitutes running down the government, it is not surprising that criticizing government policies, calling for the Prime Minister to step down will be regarded as running down the government.
This will mean many Malaysians who are merely exercising their democratic rights of expression can be unfairly banned from overseas travel.
A look at the comments made in the social media and internet will easily reveal how many Malaysians can become victims of travel ban though they are merely expressing their legitimate views, dissents about government policies and scandals.
A few years ago, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak talked about making Malaysia the best democracy in the world but what has been happening under his government is that the nation has been going backwards in terms of democratic development.
The government under his leadership has chalked up the most number of sedition prosecutions. Even a former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir has last year described that democracy is dead under Najib’s rule.
How far will the desperate government go to protect its interest?
Such ban is unjustifiable and the Home Minister Datuk Zahid Hamidi should order a stop to it.
He should also revoke the undemocratic travel ban imposed on DAP MP for Petaling Jaya, Tony Pua and and Bersih 2.0’s Maria Chin Abdullah.