KL deporting Aussie politician

KL deporting Aussie politician

KUALA LUMPUR - An Australian politician was to be deported from Malaysia on Saturday after immigration officials detained him in Kuala Lumpur for being a security risk, police said.

Officials took custody of Seanator Nick Xenophon shortly after he arrived at the international airport early Saturday.

"He will be held at the airport before he is deported back to Australia some time Saturday night," said Hisan Hamzah, the police chief of Selangor state, which has jurisdiction over the airport.

Australian Senator Nick Xenophon, shown above with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, has been an outspoken critic of the Malaysian government. (AFP Photo)

Xenophon has been outspoken on human rights issues in Malaysia and last year claimed to have been tear-gassed at a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur.

"They've basically told me I'm an enemy of the state," he said in a telephone call to a newspaper in his Adelaide hometown.

"They're trying to get me on the next plane out of here and back home."

Ibrahim Yaacob, chief of staff of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, said he met with Xenophon at the airport detention facility.

Xenophon was in Malaysia to join a delegation that planned to meet with opposition leaders and officials who would run the coming parliamentary election.

"I was even meeting members of the government. I mean, the whole situation is ridiculous. We're meant to be the closest of friends with Malaysia," he told the Adelaide Now website.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said Australian diplomats in Kuala Lumpur were seeking Xenophon's release

"Australia's concerns have been raised with Malaysia's foreign minister and the minister for home affairs and the Malaysian high commissioner to Australia," Carr said.

"Senator Xenophon's detention is a surprising and disappointing act from a country with which Australia routinely maintains strong diplomatic relations."

Other members of the Australian delegation called off their trip to Malaysia.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT