Panelists at a forum on the travel ban today agreed that only a change in government could potentially result in overall changes in the system criticised for infringing on a person's rights to personal liberty.

Moderated by writer KJ John, the panel featured activist Hishamuddin Rais, cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque or Zunar, writer Mariam Mokhtar and lawyer Surendra Ananth.

At the beginning of the discussion held at Malaysiakini's office here, it was noted that Malaysia will celebrate its 60 years of independence next month, in the background of a looming 14th general election.

In making a call for Malaysians to wake up and push for change, it was noted that many problems faced by the country today could be attributed to a general lack of awareness on current issues.

"We are like Sleeping Beauty. We don't know when a Prince Charming will come with the kiss to wake us up," said Mariam who joined the forum via Skype.

Referring to the travel bans imposed on Hishamuddin and Zunar, Mariam noted that it could be one way to stop them from highlighting the shortcomings of prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and the government abroad.

"When people like Zunar goes abroad, it (his cartoons) brings his (Najib's) image a notch down," she noted, among other means to let people know about the real situation in Malaysia.

"People who got the travel ban are probably people with the most influence.

"When they go abroad they meet the media, they meet other Malaysians. So I suppose it's also a way to keep them quiet," she added.

Hishamuddin, meanwhile, stressed that Malaysians should not waste their time waiting for a "Prince Charming" to rescue them from the country's current situation.

"If you wait for the Prince Charming, the Prince Charming will not come.

"You have to be the Prince Charming," said Hishamuddin who urged the people to once again hit the streets if Pakatan Harapan were to lose in the next general election.

Through his work with election watchdog Bersih, he insisted that he has lost faith in the Election Commission, citing the then Pakatan Rakyat's failure in GE13 to capture Putrajaya despite winning 52 per cent of the popular votes.

"The state will not allow you to win so, therefore, there is only the street because on the street the government has no control," Hishamuddin stressed.

He also recalled his days of living in self-imposed exile overseas, at times without a valid passport, to mock the government's attempt to slap him with a travel ban.

"I have done that in 1975. I don’t even need a passport and I have travelled the world. Now I decided to stay put because I have two dogs."

Zunar, who gained international recognition for his comics critical of the government, similarly pointed out that the time has come for all like-minded Malaysians to work together.

"The important thing is numbers. Don’t care who you are. So long as we have the same goal.

"This is the only way we can beat the system," he said in stressing that no changes can happen unless there is a new government after GE14.