Immigration overstepped powers, Pua says in challenge against travel ban

In his application, Pua, who only knew of the ban when he was stopped at the airport on July 22, is seeking to have the order declared unlawful and nullified.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP’s lawyer Gobind Singh Deo told reporters at the High Court here that the ban also infringed on Pua’s constitutional rights as a valid passport holder, noting that it was imposed without prior notice and without giving his client the opportunity to defend himself.

“We wrote a letter to the DG (director-general) of immigration on July 24, in which we demanded he explained the reasons Tony (Pua) was stopped from leaving the country,” Gobind said when approached outside the court.

“Unfortunately, there was no response. That is another issue we will be bringing up… because there was no response, we take it that there is no reason at all [for the travel ban].”

According to documents filed at the court today, Pua’s passport was issued on November 18, 2014 and is valid until April 23, 2020.

In the application which names the D-G and the Malaysian government as respondents, Pua is also seeking special damages for the costs borne in the ordeal.

On July 22, Pua was stopped by the immigration when trying to board a flight to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 in Sepang.

Responding then, the DAP lawmaker said the move was clearly an abuse of power to deny him his right to leave the country without a valid reason.

Pua also predicted that he would be arrested next, although he declared that this would not stop him from exposing dubious government dealings.

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