KUALA LUMPUR: A former Bangladesh diplomat, who was arrested here following a request from his government, has staved off the bid to deport him after the High Court granted him an interim stay on the deportation order by Malaysia.

       Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed the application by Mohamed Khairuzzaman, a former high commissioner to Malaysia, pending a hearing on the applicant’s habeas corpus application to challenge his detention by the Malaysian government.

       The judge sternly reminded parties that all relevant departments must adhere to the court order.

       “I don’t want to hear that he has been deported against this court order that I have granted,” Mohamed Zaini said yesterday.

       The court earlier heard from Mohamed Khairuzzaman’s lawyer Edmund Bon, who urged the court to allow the interim stay as there was a risk of his client being deported any time before the habeas corpus hearing on May 20.

       Deputy public prosecutor Wong Siew Mun represented the government, the Home Minister and the Immigration director-general as respondents.

       On Feb 10, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin confirmed Mohamed Khairuzzaman’s detention but did not disclose the alleged offence, adding that the arrest was carried out legally.

       “If there is a request from the country of origin that we feel has a basis, then we will make (arrest) and everything will be done according to existing legal procedures,” he said then.

       According to media reports, Mohamed Khairuzzaman, who has been living in Malaysia for years reportedly as a refugee, was detained at his home in Ampang on Feb 9.

       His wife Rieta Rahman told a news portal that her husband’s arrest was politically motivated.