KUALA LUMPUR: A Sessions Court here on Wednesday (Dec 10) granted the request of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the temporary release of his international passport to allow him to seek medical advice regarding his pancreatic cancer and to visit his grandchildren in the United Kingdom (UK).
Judge Azura Alwi granted the application after lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik informed that his client is requesting to obtain a passport from today until January 14.
"The court has heard and examined all arguments from both sides. The court is satisfied and has decided that the applicant's request is approved and the passport needs to be returned to the court on Jan 14, 2025, as per the application.
"The court believes the applicant has the right to the best medical treatment for himself and there is also no evidence that the applicant will abscond," said Judge Azura.
Earlier, Hisyam said his client requests an international passport to travel to the UK to meet Prof Brian Davidson, who has a background as a specialist in liver, bile duct and pancreatic surgery, as well as in cancer management.
"My client (Muhyiddin) believes that the doctor can provide insights regarding his condition. Therefore, my client has made an appointment with Prof Brian Davidson to obtain advice and the doctor's opinion regarding his health.
"My client is expected to meet with Prof Brian at 6.30pm, Dec 18 at the Platinum Medical Centre in London. This meeting is necessary for my client to obtain the necessary treatment advice during that period," said Hisyam.
According to the lawyer, Muhyiddin recently underwent a Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan) to monitor his pancreatic cancer condition and was informed that Muhyiddin's CA 19-9 tumour marker readings have shown a slight increase above normal levels.
"Although still in a state of remission, the increase in his CA 19-9 tumour marker readings somewhat raises concerns for him," he said.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Mahadi Jumaat opposed Muhyiddin's request to get a second opinion about the cancer treatment because Malaysia also has specialists, consultants, and sufficient facilities for the applicant to get treatment.
"For the reason of the applicant's second request (Muhyiddin) to visit his family and children in the UK, this is not an urgent reason but more personal," said Mahadi who handled the case together with DPPs Noralis Mat and Zander Lim Wai Keong.
Meanwhile, Judge Azura also set Jan 16 for the decision on the prosecution's application for four charges of abusing position and three charges of receiving money from illegal activities faced by Muhyiddin to be tried together.
On Sept 11, the Court of Appeal rejected Muhyiddin's application to review the court's previous decision, which returned four charges of abuse of power involving RM232.5mil against him.
Muhyiddin, 77, as prime minister (at the time) and Bersatu president, was charged with using his position for bribery amounting to RM232.5mil related to the Jana Wibawa Project from three companies, namely Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd, and Datuk Azman Yusoff, for the concerned party.
He is accused of committing the act at the Prime Minister's Office, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.
Muhyiddin also faces two charges of receiving money resulting from illegal activities amounting to RM195mil from Bukhary Equity, which was deposited into Bersatu's CIMB Bank account at CIMB Bank KL Tower Branch, Jalan Stesen Sentral here between Feb 25 and July 16, 2021, and Feb 8 and July 8, 2022.
He also appeared in the Shah Alam Sessions Court on March 13 last year on one charge of receiving money from illegal activities amounting to RM5mil and the case was transferred to the Sessions Court here to be tried together. - Bernama
