KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah has been barred from leaving Malaysia and was stopped by airport officials when she tried to board a flight to South Korea this evening.

It is understood that Maria was supposed to be in South Korea to receive the country’s 2016 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights on behalf of Bersih 2.0.

“Breaking: BERSIH Chair, @mariachin just been barred from leaving the country. She suppose to receive Gwangju Award from Korea,” Bersih 2.0 tweeted moments ago.

In another tweet, Bersih 2.0 added that no reasons were given for barring Maria from leaving the country.

It was reported last month that the group won the award for its efforts in pushing for electoral reform in Malaysia.

According to the Bersih 2.0 steering committee, the award was to commemorate the spirit of the democratic fight by the people in Gwangju on May 1980 when they stood up against the military regime in South Korea.

Bersih 2.0 said back then it will send representatives to receive the award on May 18 at the Memorial Foundation in South Korea.