POLITICAL graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza was denied entry into Sabah on Wednesday, after immigration authorities issued him a formal Notice of Refusal of Entry at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
The notice, dated May 29, 2025, was issued under Section 65(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, with Sabah authorities directing that no pass be issued to allow him entry into the state.
“This serves to notify you that you are refused entry into the State of Sabah for:
(a) This notice is issued to inform you that pursuant to Section 65(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, the State Authority has directed that no pass be issued to you to enter the State of Sabah and such pass is required under Section 66 of the same Act.”
Fahmi posted a photo of himself holding the notice in front of the Sabah/Sarawak/Labuan arrivals gate, with the words “BANNED FROM SABAH” across the image. He geotagged the post to Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
In another photo, he showed the full immigration document addressed to “MOHD FAHMI REZA BIN MOHD ZARIN”, with flight details referencing “EX: AK5110 @ 1130 HRS” — indicating his arrival on an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur at 11:30am.
Fahmi did not provide additional comments in the images he shared, but the visuals — including the official document — quickly gained traction on social media, sparking renewed conversation about Sabah’s immigration powers and the treatment of politically outspoken Malaysians.
As of today, Sabah Immigration has not released any public explanation.
Sabah, like Sarawak, retains control over immigration under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, allowing the state to regulate the entry of non-residents — including Malaysians from the peninsula — under state discretion.
Fahmi had previously been barred from entering Sarawak in 2018, but this marks the first time he has been formally denied access to Sabah.
Fahmi previously visited Sabah in 2022, during which he released a satirical caricature of then-Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Musa Aman, sparking criticism from some local political figures and supporters.
The letter handed to him at the airport was bilingual and bore official stamps verifying the document was reviewed by ground enforcement staff.
Fahmi’s post, though brief, clearly framed the incident: he had been blacklisted, and was no longer allowed to step into Sabah. - May 30, 2025
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