Sarawak environment activist Jok Jau Evong did not have the freedom to travel outside the boundaries of Malaysia for almost nine years after his passport was confiscated due to his anti-logging activities.

The Sarawak Immigration Department withheld his document on Aug 24, 1993 after he attempted to leave the state for Peru two days earlier at the Kuching International Airport.

Today Jok is a happy man. He was to be issued with a new passport soon.

In recording a settlement between Jok and the Sarawak government, the Court of Appeal in Kuala Lumpur today declared that the decision by the Sarawak Immigration Department in 1993 to withdraw Jok's passport should be revoked and awarded him costs amounting to RM 9,000. The Court of Appeal panel was led by Justice Gopal Sri Ram.

Jok, an activist with Sahabat Alam Malaysia, was told in 1993 that his passport was cancelled due to his active anti-logging campaigns, calling for a boycott of Malaysian tropical products and his allegations that the Malaysian government was destroying its forests in various international forums.

Jok, a farmer from Kampung Ulu Baram, then applied before the High Court for a writ of certiorari to annul the government's decision but the case was thrown out by Justice Azmel Maamor. However the grounds for the dismissal were never given.

During the trial at the High Court stage, Jok's lawyers argued that there was no evidence to show that the Home Minister had ordered the passport to be withdrawn and that the then Sarawak Immigration director, Rambli Adros Yahya, held no power to order the cancellation.

'Felt like an outsider'

When contacted today, Jok said he was pleased by the settlement.

"I feel that when my passport was cancelled, its as if I am not a Malaysian citizen. I am looking forward to renew my passport," he added.

Gopal was today assisted by justices Allaudin Mohd Sheriff and Abdul Kadir Sulaiman. Jok was represented by Jessica Ram Binwani while the Immigration department and the government were represented by senior federal counsel Pretam Singh.