By Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid | Malaysiakini
Malaysian immigration authorities have withdrawn a deportation order against Bangladeshi opposition politician MA Quayum, who contended his life would be at risk if he was sent home.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning recorded the consent judgment between Quayum and the Home Minister, as well as three other respondents.
Today’s proceedings before judge K. Muniandy were initially set for Quayum’s habeas corpus application against his alleged unlawful arrest.
According to a copy of the consent judgment, the Malaysian authorities agreed to cancel an order dated Jan 24 for Quayum’s arrest and deportation.
The authorities also agreed to allow the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) cardholder to be assisted by the UN body to be resettled in another country.
The Immigration Director General and three other respondents – the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Home Minister, and the Malaysian government – agreed not to detain or deport Quayum and his family while they await settlement in another country.
Terms and conditions
It should be noted among the terms of the consent ruling was for the Bangladeshi opposition politician cum refugee and his family to leave Malaysia immediately following successful resettlement in another country.
Another term in the consent ruling was for Quayum to withdraw a related judicial review recently filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
The consent judgment also mentioned that Quayum can make another application for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) if the Bangladeshi government reinstates the refugee’s passport.
Quayum was represented by counsel Edmund Bon, Kee Shu Min, and Lee Yee Woei.
Quayum has been a refugee in Malaysia since 2015 under the MM2H programme.
However, on Jan 12, he was apprehended in a joint operation conducted by the Malaysian police and the National Security Intelligence of Bangladesh at his residence in Ampang.
Human rights organisation SUARAM previously alleged that Quayum’s detention request was part of a systematic crackdown by the Bangladeshi government against political opposition.