The Malaysian Insight

CONTROVERSIAL lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s diplomatic passport has been revoked, said the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the ministry cancelled the passport on September 19, a week after Shafee was charged in court. 

“The Foreign Affairs Ministry revoked and cancelled the diplomatic passport on 19 September 2018,” he said in a Parliamentary written reply. 

A diplomatic passport was issued to Shafee in 2009 when he represented Malaysia in the the Asean Human Rights Inter-governmental Commission (AICHR).

In 2016, the 63-year old again received a diplomatic passport in his capacity as the Ambassador-at-Large for Human Rights.

“...a diplomatic passport was to make it easier for him to carry out his duties as a Malaysian official,” Saifuddin said.

The minister was responding to Pang Hock Liong (DAP-Labis) who asked if the government would withdraw or cancel Shafee’s passport. 

Shafee was charged on September 13 with money laundering and tax offences under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLA) 2001.
He was accused of receiving RM9.5 million from former prime minister Najib Razak, believed to be illegally obtained from state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Shafee claimed trial to all four charges and was released on RM1 million bail. – October 29, 2018.