Al Jazeera journo prohibited from entering Malaysia due to national security - KDN

The government decided to stop Al Jazeera journalist Mary Ann Jolley from entering the country because she could threaten national security and public order, Home Ministry (KDN) said today.

According to the ministry, the Immigration Act 1959/63 gives the Director-General of Immigration the power to prevent the entry of any foreign national into Malaysia after it was convinced that the individual could threaten national security.

The Home Ministry said this in a written reply to Hee Loy Sian (PKR-Petaling Jaya Selatan) who wanted to know the reason Jolley was prevented from entering the country, at the Dewan Rakyat sitting here today.

Jolley, an Australian national and a journalist on Al Jazeera's 101 East current affairs programme, was prevented from entering Malaysia and deported back home on June 14, 2015.

To another question from Hee who wanted to know if investigations on Corperal Sirul Azhar Umar were closed after he ran away to Australia, KDN said the investigations had been completed and the death sentence was imposed on the accused by the Federal Court.

"In connection to this, the issue of the investigations being closed does not arise," said the ministry.

On Jan 13, the Federal Court had upheld the conviction and death sentence by the High Court on Sirul Azhar and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri for the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu on Oct 18, 2006.

Sirul Azhar was not present when the apex court heard the case. He had fled to Australia.