Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, a Malaysian who did PhD in S’pore banned from re-entry after engaging in political activism here: MHA

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Malaysian who did PhD in S’pore banned from re-entry after engaging in political activism here: MHA​

Published Mar 27, 2026, 11:00 AM
Updated Mar 27, 2026, 11:29 AM

The Ministry of Home Affairs said on March 27 that Ms Fadiah Nadwa Fikri had encouraged some youths here to “adopt her brand of radical advocacy”.

ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

SINGAPORE - A Malaysian woman who was studying in Singapore was denied re-entry after engaging in political activism in Singapore.

In response to queries, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on March 27 that Ms Fadiah Nadwa Fikri had encouraged some youths here to “adopt her brand of radical advocacy”.

The ministry said she encouraged them to go beyond protests, to mobilise students and different communities in Singapore, and to undertake disruptive and violent actions to support specific causes.

Ms Fadiah, who completed a PhD with the National University of Singapore in 2025, had posted on social media platform X on March 22 and 23 that she had been notified that she was banned from entering the country after trying to do so on March 22.

MHA said: “We will not tolerate foreigners getting involved in our domestic politics, nor the promotion of unlawful, violent and disruptive methods of civil protest.

“Fadiah is an undesirable visitor, and we have thus denied her entry into our country.”

In her social media posts, Ms Fadiah said she had asked immigration officers why she was banned, but was told that they could not disclose the reasons.

She posted a photo of a notice of refusal of entry dated March 22 which stated that she was not allowed to enter into Singapore as she is “ineligible for the issue of a pass under current immigration policies”. The notice cited the place of issue as Woodlands.

Ms Fadiah said she had attempted to make the recent trip to Singapore as her former supervisor had invited her to deliver a guest lecture. She also planned to take care of her friend’s cat and collect her degree certificate and books.

Ms Fadiah said she had lived in Singapore for five years and was conferred a doctoral degree on Jan 31, adding that she had left legal practice to pursue a PhD at the National University of Singapore.

According to the university’s website, Ms Fadiah had pursued her doctorate with its Department of Southeast Asian Studies and graduated in 2025.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority figures from 2025 show that 45,700 foreigners were denied entry into Singapore, up from 33,100 the year before.

They were refused entry after having been assessed to pose immigration threats, and include those who may work illegally or who have the potential to overstay their visits, and individuals who pose security risks to the nation.