He said the ruling transgressed civil liberties and set back Malaysia to the middle ages.

“Very saddening. Only dictatorial, police and communist states have this.

“This is an outrageous ruling. There must be freedom of speech, we must allow dissenting voices.

“Everyone should have the right to criticise the Federal Government, including state governments such as Penang,” Lim said in a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly today.

English daily The Star reported this morning that the Immigration Department had been instructed to disallow Malaysians found to have smeared the government’s image, from travelling overseas.

According to the report, those who discredit the government may be banned from travelling overseas for three years.

Those who disparage the government overseas, would also be barred for three years from taking further trips abroad upon their return to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Lim urged Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to explain why the ruling was not put forth in Parliament, alleging instead that the ruling appeared to have been instituted secretly.

“People like Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah are barred from leaving the country.

“She was merely travelling to Korea to receive a human rights award.

“Maria did not have luxury homes in New York or sponsor any Hollywood films,” he said in jest.