THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today granted an application by Bangladeshi opposition politician M. A. Quayum, 61, to delay his deportation pending the disposal of his habeas corpus application for alleged wrongful detention.

Judge K. Muniandy approved the application, which was presented by Quayum’s lawyer, Kee Shu Min. Federal Attorney Mohamad Firdaus Sadina Ali, representing the four respondents – the Inspector-General of Police, Immigration Director-General, home minister, and the Malaysian government – did not object to the delay.

“The court allowed the application (postpone deportation) and set April 5 to hear the habeas corpus application,” said Judge Muniandy.

The politician, affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), lodged a habeas corpus application last Monday, aiming for his release and requesting a halt to his deportation until a decision is reached on the habeas corpus application.

In a supporting affidavit, Quayum’s daughter stated that her father, a resident of Malaysia for the past 15 years and holding a passport with a Malaysian Second Home Programme visa, was detained at the Ampang Jaya police headquarters on January 12.

She asserted that the arrest was orchestrated to forcibly repatriate her father to Bangladesh promptly, without adhering to any legal procedures, including the Extradition Act.

Furthermore, she contended that sending her father back to Bangladesh would pose a threat to his safety and subject him to political persecution. – Bernama, January 18, 2024.