Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said the government need not have to give reasons for barring Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah from leaving Malaysia.

“It's a power given under the Immigration Act, we don't need to explain why... We are not compelled to give a reason,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Pressed further on the matter, Nur Jazlan refused to elaborate on the government's action to disallow Maria from travelling overseas.

Yesterday, Maria was stopped at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport from going to South Korea.

She was scheduled to receive the Gwangju Prize Human Rights Award there on Bersih's behalf.

Maria said the immigration officers merely said the order (to prohibit her from travelling abroad) came from Putrajaya.