KUALA LUMPUR – Activist and graphic designer Fahmi Reza is not subject to an official travel ban, the nation’s police chief clarified today, attributing the incident that stopped him from leaving the country to a confusion at the immigration checkpoint.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Fahmi’s name had been placed on a police movement monitoring list as part of an ongoing investigation, but stressed this did not restrict his right to travel.
“There is no formal travel restriction imposed on Fahmi Reza at this time. His inclusion in the monitoring list is for internal reference and record-keeping, and is part of standard operating procedures,” he said in a statement.
The IGP explained that the monitoring status had mistakenly triggered a travel control order, which immigration officers acted upon. He said the matter was under review and that steps would be taken to tighten procedures.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) earlier issued a statement saying that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had directed the deputy IGP to look into the matter and urged the police to provide a clear explanation.
The PMO reaffirmed the government’s stance in upholding individual freedoms, so long as they do not endanger national security or breach any laws.
Fahmi was stopped from boarding a flight to Singapore yesterday, where he had planned to attend a concert. Immigration officers informed him that a travel control order had been issued by Bukit Aman. He was escorted out of the international departure area and told to refer to the federal police.
The incident followed a series of recent travel-related restrictions involving Fahmi. On May 29, he was denied entry into Sabah and deported upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu. A similar deportation took place earlier this year, after he attempted to land in the state in late December – reportedly over a satirical mural of Sabah Governor Tun Musa Aman that had gone viral.
Fahmi, who turned 47 on the day of the KLIA incident, described the experience as an “unforgettable birthday present.” – June 8, 2025