Zahid goes to court for permanent return of passport

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants the Court of Appeal to review the High Court’s decision that dismissed his application to obtain his passport, which he said was for him to carry out his official duties as the Deputy Prime Minister.

In his notice of motion filed on Feb 13, Ahmad Zahid said the High Court’s dismissal would prejudice his rights and responsibilities as he would have to officially apply to get access to his passport each time he needed to leave the country for official work.

He is seeking for the Court of Appeal to reconsider his application for a permanent release of his passport and says that he is ready to accept any conditions imposed by the court.

In his supporting affidavit, Ahmad Zahid said Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah erred when he rejected his application.

“This application is in no way mala fide (bad intentions) or prejudicial to any parties, as I have given my word to give full cooperation until the disposal of the case.”

Ahmad Zahid’s passport is currently in the safekeeping of the court as part of his bail conditions in his graft trial involving the misappropriation of funds from charity foundation Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB).

On Jan 20, he applied for the permanent release of his passport, allowing him to carry out his responsibilities.

He said he was faced with restrictions in carrying out his duty because he did not have access to his travel document.

In his supporting affidavit to the application, Ahmad Zahid said he was given the mandate and responsibility by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to appear on his behalf at several administrative functions.

On Feb 3, Justice Sequerah dismissed the application, citing the principle that all people are equal before the law.

During case management conducted online yesterday, Court of Appeal deputy registrar Mohd Khairi Haron fixed March 27 for the hearing of the notice of motion.

Lawyer Aiman Abdul Rahman represented Ahmad Zahid, while deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob appeared for the prosecution.