Xenophon to be deported tonight, says Anwar aide
Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider
Australian Senator Nick Xenophon, who is now being held by Immigration officials as a “security risk”, will be deported tonight from the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal here, an aide to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar’s chief of staff Ibrahim Yaacob told The Malaysian Insider that Home Ministry officials have met Australian High Commissioner Miles Kupa at the airport and have decided to send Xenophon (picture) back to Australia on a 10pm flight.
“He’ll be deported tonight. No reasons given,” Ibrahim said.
He added that other Australian MPs including Mal Washer, John Williams and Steve Georganas, who were due to arrive here tomorrow, have cancelled their plans.
Ibrahim had earlier said Xenophon had flown in this morning to meet Anwar as well as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Election Commission (EC) officials next week to discuss the country’s electoral system.
Australia’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its disappointment with Xenophon’s detention and demanded his release.
News of Xenophon’s detention has also been picked up by the Australian press.
“I am effectively a prisoner here,” he was quoted as saying in the Australian newspaper The Sunday Mail.
The paper reported the Australian lawmaker managed to slip through a phone call when he was left unattended in the interrogation room.
“I’m being held in an area with all these holding cells which are full of women. They have basically told me I am an enemy of the state. They are trying to get me on the next plane out of here and back home.
“I was even meeting members of the government, I mean, the whole situation is ridiculous, we are meant to be the closest of friends with Malaysia,” he told the paper.
“We are meant to be having a people swap deal on asylum seekers but so far it looks like the only person being swapped is me,” he was quoted saying.
