Malaysian political cartoonist's travel ban stirs anger, but police call it a mistake
– 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 garnered more than 19,000 reactions, 6,400 comments and 3,300 shares on June 8.
Malaysia's police chief Razarudin Husain said Mr Fahmi was not subject to a travel ban, but he is under surveillance as part of an ongoing investigation. No details on the investigation were given.
'There was a confusion during the checkpoint verification process on June 7, which led to the erroneous issuance of a travel ban. The situation is currently under review and appropriate measures will be taken to update the relevant procedures,' Tan Sri Razarudin said in a statement .
Mr Fahmi was dissatisfied with the police statement and said he will initiate legal action against the government.
'I did not see any officials dare to be responsible for their error to block my personal freedom of movement... Now it's time for the people to drag the authority into the court,' the activist said.
In 2016, Mr Fahmi rose to prominence after caricaturing then Prime Minister Najib Razak as a 'sinister clown' in connection with the multi-billion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. He was charged with the improper use of network facilities with the intent to offend and annoy others. In July 2019, he was fined RM10,000 (S$3,030).
In December 2024, Mr Fahmi was arrested and probed for ridiculing incoming Sabah governor Musa Aman as ' No 1 Corrupter' in a n artwork that depicted him with a RM100 note in place of his tongue.
Tun Musa was accused of being involved in a US$63 million (S$81 million) timber kickback scheme during his tenure as Sabah chief minister from 2003 to 2018. But the charges against him were withdrawn in June 2020, causing widespread criticism.
On May 29, 2025, the Sabah state government, which has the immigration autonomy , denied Mr Fahmi entry into the state – without giving an explanation.
On Mr Fahmi's Facebook post about being denied freedom of travel, Asian Studies professor James Chin of Tasmania University described the Malaysian government's move as authoritarian.
'Silencing dissent and cracking down on political satire is not a national security matter – it's an excuse. Blocking someone from travelling over criticism is authoritarian, plain and simple.
'People are starting to see no real difference between Madani and Barisan Nasional (BN), and it's becoming clearer by the day,' Dr Chin penned in a Facebook post on June 7. Madani refers to Datuk Seri Anwar's slogan for civilised society under his administration.
Before coming to federal power in May 2018, the Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan criticised the then-BN government for imposing travel bans on dissidents – most notably political cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, who goes by the pen name Zunar; then-MP Tony Pua and Miss Maria Chin Abdullah, then chairwoman of the Bersih electoral reform group.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) MP Syahredzan Johan stated that a travel ban cannot be imposed without strong justification.
Mr Syahredzan, a lawyer who represented Mr Fahmi in the Najib caricature case, noted that the cartoonist had been allowed to travel abroad during the legal proceedings and had always cooperated with the authorities when required.
'If the travel ban is due to an ongoing investigation, such action is unnecessary, as Mr Fahmi is not a flight risk,' the DAP national vice-chairman said in a statement on June 8.
Lu Wei Hoong is Malaysia correspondent at The Straits Times, specialising in transport and politics.
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