The Sarawak immigration authorities last night denied entry to Malaysian activist Cynthia Gabriel, a director of peninsula-based human rights group Suaram.

In a statement, Suaram said Cynthia ( photo) was told that her name was on the blacklist of those not allowed to enter the state.

She was to have attended a workshop in Miri today, but instead had to take the first flight back to Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Sarawak has a different set of immigration rules from that used in Peninsular Malaysia as a result of an agreement signed during the formation of Malaysia in 1963. (The states of Sabah and Sarawak, located in Borneo island, opted to join the country then.)

Sarawak retained exclusive control over who enters the state. Even Malaysians living in other states have to go through immigration checks at borders.

Blacklisted 'since 1998'

When contacted this afternoon, Cynthia said she arrived at the Miri airport at about 9.15pm yesterday and that immigration officers told her her name was on the blacklist.

She said it took a long time before the desk officer finally informed that she was banned due to a directive from the state government, and that her name has been on the blacklist since 1998.

"When I pressed them as to why, they didn't give any explanation, except to say: 'you should know better'. I haven't been to Sarawak for a long time, and definitely years before 1998," said Cynthia.

"It is a serious violation of rights if you cannot move freely within Malaysia any more. This really reflects the situation inside Sarawak itself - closed-off, paranoid and unable to take constructive suggestion or criticism."

' Unjust and abusive'

In the statement, Suaram coordinator S Arutchelvan said the action by the state immigration department had breached international human rights conventions that allow for freedom of movement.

"We consider the action to be undemocratic, unjust and abusive. These actions can only arouse more curiosity and questions on the state of human rights in Sarawak," he said.

He also said this was not the first time that human rights activists have been denied entry into the state.

"Among previous cases were that of environment and consumer activists from Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Consumer Association of Penang, and community organisers from Sabah," he added.