Muhyiddin can celebrate wedding anniversary in M’sia, not Uzbekistan, rules judge

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife can celebrate their wedding anniversary in Malaysia but not overseas, says Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi.

The former prime minister on Thursday (Oct 3) failed in his bid for the temporary release of his passport to go to Uzbekistan with his wife to celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary.

Judge Azura dismissed the application by Muhyiddin because the reasons given were unreasonable.

“The applicant can still go on holiday and celebrate any celebration, but not abroad,” she said.

Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Noralis Mat said the prosecution objected to Muhyiddin’s application because the reasons given by the Pagoh Member of Parliament to holiday abroad with his wife and celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary were frivolous.

“The accused (Muhyiddin) must have reasonable, urgent and critical reasons. Citing stress from court charges, especially those under the Sedition Act, as a reason to take a vacation abroad is very trivial,”

“Celebrating wedding anniversaries and holidaying can be done in Malaysia. In addition, the court also needs to consider the seriousness of the charges facing the applicant and the risk of him fleeing,” said Noralis, who prosecuted the case with deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong.

Lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, representing Muhyiddin, when applying for the temporary release of his client’s passport, said Muhyiddin would leave for Uzbekistan tomorrow (Oct 4) and will return to Malaysia on Oct 12.

“My client is not a ‘flight risk’ since he is the president of Bersatu and has to attend the Parliament sitting, scheduled from Oct 14 to Dec 12. My client will return his passport to the court on Oct 14,” he said.

In the application, Muhyiddin stated that he and his wife are taking a short trip to Uzbekistan as a respite from the various challenges facing him, including the sedition case at the Gua Musang Court, in Kelantan, the by-elections and also to spend time with his wife in conjunction with their 52nd wedding anniversary on Sept 22.

Last Sept 11, the Court of Appeal dismissed Muhyiddin’s application to review the decision of its previous panel in reinstating the four power abuse charges involving RM232.5mil against him.

Muhyiddin, 77, as the prime minister (at the time) and Bersatu president, was charged with using his position to obtain RM232.5mil in bribes from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd and Datuk Azman Yusoff for his political party.

He was charged with committing the offence at the Prime Minister’s Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra, Federal Government Administration Centre in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.

The Bersatu president also faces two charges of receiving money from illegal activities amounting to RM195mil from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd which was deposited into Bersatu’s CIMB Bank account.

The offence was committed at CIMB Bank Menara KL Branch, Jalan Stesen Sentral between Feb 25 and July 16, 2021 and between Feb 8 and July 8, 2022.

Muhyiddin was also charged in the Sessions Court in Shah Alam on March 13 last year with receiving money from illegal activities amounting to RM5mil and the case was transferred to the Sessions Court here to be tried together. – Bernama