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PUTRAJAYA - The Court of Appeal today granted Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's appeal to have his passport permanently returned.
The decision was made by a three-member panel led by Judge Datuk Hanipah Farikullah today.
Also on the bench were Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and Datuk Lim Chong Fong.
Hanipah said the court allowed Zahid's application to obtain the travel document after the High Court on Feb 3 last rejected the passport application permanently.
"After examining Ahmad Zahid's affidavit as the applicant, the court is satisfied that it is meritorious, so this application is allowed," he said.
During the proceeding, Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Abdul Malik Ayob as the respondent did not object to the application made by the Bagan Datuk member of Parliament.
On Feb 13, Zahid filed a review at the Court of Appeal against the decision made by Kuala Lumpur High Court, which rejected his application to get back international passport permanently to enable him to carry out his official duties.
This was after Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequera (who is now a Court of Appeal Judge) on Feb 3, only allowed a temporary release of the travel document for Zahid to obtain a diplomatic passport.
The travel document was required to be returned to the court after the diplomatic application was completed.
Meanwhile, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik who represented Ahmad Zahid said that Zahid managed to regain his international passport permanently.
"Following the decision, he is only subjected to RM2 million bail without any other additional conditions," he said when met outside the court after the proceedings were over.
The passport was previously submitted to the court as an additional bail condition after Rural and Regional Development Minister was charged with 47 charges of corruption, breach of trust and money laundering, involving Akalbudi Foundation funds, in which the proceedings are now at the defense stage.
Based on the notice of motion filed, Zahid, 70, applied for the release of the passport at the Court of Appeal.
Through a supporting affidavit, Zahid said, Sequerah had erred and was wrong in using his discretion when rejecting his application.
The Umno president said that the decision is a prejudice to his rights and responsibilities as an individual who is also part of the country's leadership.
Zahid also stated that the application is not at all mala fide (malicious or prejudiced) against any party as he assured to continue to give full cooperation in solving the corruption case.