Pua files leave for judicial review over travel ban

Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament Tony Pua Kiam Wee today filed a leave application for a judicial review to challenge an order by the Immigration Director-General prohibiting him from leaving the country.

The DAP publicity secretary filed the application through Messrs. Gobind Singh Deo & Co at the High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) registry here.

In the application, which named the Immigration Director-General and the government as respondents, Pua is seeking an order that the order by the Immigration Director-General to stop him from leaving the country on July 22, 2015, was unlawful and was therefore null and void.

He claimed that on that day, he was at the klia2 International Airport leaving to Yogyakarta and the expiry date on his passport was April 23, 2020.

He is also seeking to quash the order, special damages, costs and other relief which the court deems fit.

Pua claimed that the order and decision by the Immigration Director-General was ultra vires and arbitrary as he was not given prior notice.

He said the decision was unreasonable, unfair and tainted with mala fide.

His lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo, told reporters that Pua had sent a letter on July 24 seeking an explanation from the Immigration director-general on the order, but there was no response.