Pix by Hazreen Mohamad
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been granted temporary release of his passport to travel to the United Kingdom next month for his annual pancreatic cancer check-up and consultation with a specialist.
High Court judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin, however, denied 78-year-old Muhyiddin‘s request to collect the passport today, ruling that he could obtain it on Dec 8, as his flight to London is scheduled for Dec 15 and there is no urgent need to receive it earlier.
The judge ordered Muhyiddin to return his passport to the court on Jan 5 instead of his requested Jan 8, noting that a five- to six-day transit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before returning to Kuala Lumpur was unnecessary.
Noor Ruwena said she did not find justification for Muhyiddin to take a long transit in Dubai.
“Based on the supporting affidavit, I do not see any justification on the five to six days transit in Dubai.
“That part is very glaring. You can do a transit of one to two days, maximum.
“The court has checked the airline, there is a shorter transit. You can get the dates changes, there are other options.”
The judge also chided Muhyiddin for booking flights before obtaining court approval, warning that such actions could open the floodgates for similar cases.
“You cannot take for granted at each application will be approved by the court. I do not want a precedent. I hope that in the future, application will be made first before the court makes its decision.”
Muhyiddin, who is Pagoh member of parliament, dressed in a blue and white striped shirt and a dark blazer, was present during the proceedings.
Earlier, Muhyiddin’s lawyer, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, requested that his client be given leeway for him to spend quality time with his family without interruption or harassment from his legal team and prosecution.
He stressed that the trip was not purely a holiday for Muhyiddin, but also for his medical check-up and he was not a flight risk.
However, deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, who appeared alongside Noralis Mat, said the prosecution did not object to Muhyiddin travelling to London for medical consultations.
He argued that it was inappropriate that Muhyiddin to also spend time with his family while in London before continuing on to Madrid, Spain, and then returning to Kuala Lumpur.
“If the court allows his application, the passport release should only be granted until Dec 20.”
In his application, Muhyiddin requested that his passport be released until Jan 12 to allow him to travel to London for medical consultations and a health assessment with Professor Brian Davidson at Platinum Medical Centre on Dec 17.
Besides medical reasons, Muhyiddin said he intended to spend time with his family, particularly his three grandchildren, who reside in the UK.
He also planned to fly to Madrid with his wife on Dec 20, stay there until Jan 2, and return to Kuala Lumpur on Jan 8.
Muhyiddin said he is not a flight risk and intends to clear his name on money laundering and sedition charges linked to the Jana Wibawa scandal, which trial is expected to be begin next year.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/10/1288985/muhyiddin-yassin-face-full-trial-seven-jana-wibawa-corruption-charges
He said his family and assets were in Malaysia and it was impossible for him to abscond.
The Perikatan Nasional chairman was charged in 2023 with seven offences comprising four counts of abuse of power and three counts of money laundering in connection with the Jana Wibawa initiative.
Muhyiddin, who was prime minister at the time, allegedly abused his position by soliciting RM232.5 million in bribes for his party from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd and Datuk Azman Yusoff.
The alleged gratification was linked to Jana Wibawa, a government programme introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist Bumiputera contractors.
Muhyiddin also faces three money laundering charges involving RM200 million allegedly received from Bukhary Equity and deposited into Bersatu’s AmBank and CIMB Bank accounts.
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