Home Minister: Employer of Bangladeshi Md Rayhan also under investigation

KUALA LUMPUR: The employer of Md Rayhan Kabir, the Bangladeshi who appeared in the controversial Al Jazeera documentary, is also being investigated, says the Home Ministry.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said Md Rayhan was arrested on July 24 by a team of Immigration officers from the Putrajaya office and has been remanded.

"He has been remanded under Section 51(5b) under the Immigration Act in Putrajaya for further investigations.

"Md Rayhan's temporary visitor's pass was also revoked and a notice was sent to his employer on July 13.

"Investigations are also being done on the employer," said Hamzah in his ministerial reply during the debate on the Royal Address on Tuesday (Aug 4).

He said any employer or foreign worker who went against the Immigration Act could be deported to their home country.

Seputeh DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok then interjected and asked why the claims made by Md Rayhan in the Al-Jazeera documentary were not investigated.

"In fact, today we found out that the Al-Jazeera office in Kuala Lumpur was raided. We want to know why this is happening?

"He (Md Rayhan) was interviewed by a television station and he told them what happened. What is his mistake?" she asked.

To this, Hamzah replied that it was the discretion of the Immigration Department's director-general under Section 9 of the Immigration Act.

Kok then interjected again and said that Hamzah wasn't answering her question, adding that such a move tarnished the image of the Immigration Department as well as the Minister.

Hamzah then replied that Kok should check the Immigration Act.

"You were once a Minister, please check the Act. We can send back anyone who we feel is not wanted here," he added.

Md Rayhan is alleged to have made false allegations on Malaysia’s treatment of illegal immigrants in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic when he was interviewed in the Al Jazeera documentary.

The police have also started investigating the international television channel for its airing of the documentary.