KOTA KINABALU: July 2, 2026 – The Bersih Steering Committee has been urged to respect Sabah’s immigration autonomy and to refrain from making unfounded allegations regarding the recent denial of entry to its executive director, Asraf Sharafi Mohammad Azhar.
Muhammad Faisal Mohamad Mohidin, a former special officer to Sabah’s Deputy Chief Minister I, said the committee’s attempts to portray immigration enforcement as a form of “intimidation” and to link it to political directives from the Chief Minister were baseless and unsupported by clear evidence.
“Any such claims should rightly be backed by concrete proof. Directly linking administrative or enforcement decisions to the state leadership without solid facts only invites confusion and risks undermining public confidence in government institutions,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
He noted that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji bin Haji Noor is currently in the Holy City of Mecca performing Umrah, making any suggestion that the immigration action was politically instructed by him an improper allegation.
Faisal also warned against manipulating the narrative by tying the matter to the 2025 incident involving Fahmi Reza, saying this only creates a perception that every enforcement action has a political motive.
“The fact remains that every immigration decision is subject to assessment by the authorities based on the law and current security considerations,” he said.
He stressed that Sabah holds a special position under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Immigration Act 1959/63, which grant the state government authority to control the entry of individuals into Sabah. He added that the implementation of the Sabah Warning Notice (NAS) is part of the established legal mechanism and must be respected by all parties.
On the family-related concerns raised by Bersih, Faisal said everyone respects the personal family matters of any individual, but such reasons should not be used as grounds to challenge decisions made in accordance with legal provisions, nor exploited to construct a particular political narrative.
“The peace, security and harmony of Sabah’s people must always remain the priority. The right to assembly must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of the law,” he said.
He also reminded outside parties to respect Sabah’s autonomy and not turn the state into a theatre for provocation or political conflict that could threaten communal harmony.
“Sabah is a peaceful, sovereign state with rights and jurisdiction enshrined in the Constitution and national laws. All parties are urged to respect legal processes, avoid baseless speculation, and ensure that all public statements are made responsibly in order to preserve the harmony and stability of the state,” he added.
