KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has applied to temporarily retrieve his passport as he needs to go to Bangkok to attend the opening of a restaurant there on Feb 15.
This is despite the former prime minister having a court proceeding on the same date, and his presence is required before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong, in his affidavit said based on the flight ticket, Muhyiddin, as the applicant, will depart for Bangkok at 4.20pm.
He claimed that the purpose of the trip is to strengthen and foster relationships with acquaintances and to attend the opening event at a restaurant named Phringkiao.
"The reasons given are unreasonable and lack the urgent need to justify the temporary release of the applicant's passport.
"Additionally, the applicant's explanations lack supporting evidence in his affidavit," he claimed.
The court has scheduled Feb 15 to hear Muhyiddin's application to dismiss all his money laundering charges totalling RM200 million and the prosecution's application to adjourn the trial.
"His presence is mandatory. This matter is fully known to the applicant, yet he still made flight reservations for that date.
"The applicant's risk of fleeing still exists because he still faces three money laundering charges.
"I firmly believe that the applicant's request will disrupt the hearing on that date (Feb 15) and inconvenience the court proceedings," he said.
Muhyiddin, in his affidavit filed on Jan 31 said he needed the document until Feb 23 to enable him to travel to Bangkok.
"A close acquaintance of mine, who is also a Malaysian, has recently opened a Thai cuisine restaurant.
"They wish to inaugurate the restaurant and have invited me to the opening even as a token of appreciation for my role as a leader of Malaysia," the Pagoh member of parliament had said.
Muhyiddin claimed that the visit was necessary as he would also be meeting with Malaysian businessmen in Thailand to discuss business matters beneficial to the bilateral relationship between both countries.
He claimed that he will also be visiting several leaders, thinkers, and Islamic community figures in Bangkok to continue relationships beyond government circles.
On Nov 29, last year, the same court dismissed Muhyiddin's application for permanently retrieving his passport.
However, it allowed the temporary release of the document for his travel to London with his family members.
On Aug 15, the same year, High Court Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin acquitted and discharged the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president on all four charges of abuse of power.
Jamil, in his judgment, said that all four charges were defective and in bad faith.
He said there was lack of details in the charges, and the accused was charged with offences unknown to the law.
Following the development, Muhyiddin, on Oct 4, filed an application to strike out his remaining three money laundering charges linked to the Jana Wibawa scandal.
He also wanted the Sessions Court to grant him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) from the charges.
He argued that the money laundering charges would not stand as they were predicated to the main ones which were dropped recently.
