News

Published: Saturday February 16, 2013 MYT 1:39:00 PM
Updated: Saturday February 16, 2013 MYT 3:29:19 PM

Australian senator Nick Xenophon to be deported

By AUSTIN CAMOENS


SEPANG: Police have confirmed Australian senator Nick Xenophon has been denied entry into Malaysia.

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah confirmed the Australian lawmaker was not permitted to enter the country.

“He will be held at the airport before he is deported via a flight back to Australia some time Saturday night,” he said, declining to elaborate further.

It is learnt that 54-year-old Xenophon landed in the country today around 6.40am at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal.

According to reports, shortly after he arrived he joined a customs checkpoint queue but was told there were irregularities with his passport.

Xenophon is expected to board a 10pm flight from LCCT back to Australia on Saturday night.

The independent senator, who attended the Bersih 3.0 rally, is known in Malaysia for his long-standing and active campaign against the palm oil industry.

He also came to Malaysia last April as an election observer after being invited by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Despite being invited by Anwar, he insisted he was independent.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story
  • Bookmark and Share