THE soon-to-be deported Bangladeshi Md Rayhan Kabir has apologised to the Malaysian people following his appearance in Al Jazeera’s Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown documentary.

According to his lawyer, C. R. Selva, the apology was conveyed to him by Rayhan in their one-hour meeting at the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya today.

“During the meeting, Rayhan asked me to convey his apology to all Malaysians and members of enforcement,” Selva said after the meeting.

Rayhan was detained in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, on July 24 after the Immigration Department sought the help of the public to track down the individual who appeared in the Al Jazeera documentary.

In the documentary, Rayhan made a statement concerning the treatment of illegal immigrants by the Malaysia authorities during the movement control order (MCO) period.

Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud had reportedly said on July 25 that Rayhan will be deported and blacklisted from ever re-entering Malaysia.

Selva said his client said his statements in the documentary were made based on what he saw, namely, witnessing his friends being detained, handcuffed and ordered to get on board the Immigration Department’s lorries.

“He could not accept what he saw and it was his personal view but he had no intention of accusing the authorities,” he said.

Selva also confirmed Rayhan had received the deportation order following his action.

“He has accepted the decision of the authorities to deport him and he is also impatient to see his family again,” Selva said, adding that his client was being well-looked after during his detention.

However, Selva said he had yet to receive Rayhan’s deportation date and will continue liasing with the department on the development of the case.

S. K. Sumitha, another lawyer of Rayhan’s, said representatives from Bukit Aman had also met her at the Immigration Department after her meeting with Rayhan today.

Sumitha said police took her statement under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code as she also appeared in the documentary. – Bernama, July 29, 2020.