The move to detain and deport Australian senator Nick Xenophon at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) today is in accordance with the law and is nothing more than an immigration issue.

hishammuddin hussein dang wangi police station pc 1 Home Minister Hishammuddin  Hussein ( right ) said such an action was common practice here and stressed there was “nothing special” or political about Xenophon’s case.

“This is an immigration issue, and is a common thing. Malaysians too go through the same and are not allowed in (to the country),” he was reported saying in Malay daily Sinar Harian today.

“There is no political element behind the detention. I believe the detention is in accordance with the law.”

He further rubbished claim that the Australian lawmaker was deported because he is considered an “ enemy of the state ”, saying there was no need to twist the situation.

“We act according to the law. The Immigration (Department) will explain this,” he told the Malay daily.

Xenophon is 'prohibited immigrant'

NONE Meanwhile, Immigration Department director-general Alias Ahmad ( left ) told The Star that Xenophon was not allowed to enter the country as his name is on the department's blacklist as a “prohibited immigrant”.

Prohibited immigrants are those whose presence in Malaysia is considered a danger to the community, he explained.

“Prohibited immigrants are also those who could cause disorder in the country.

“An alert on his name popped up when the immigration officer was processing his passport and a further check revealed that he is on the list, so we issued a 'no to land' order against him,” he was quoted as saying.

However, Alias clarified that Xenophon was allowed to move freely within the airport and was not detained in a cell as claimed by the Australian press.

“We provided him with lunch,” he said.

Alias said he had also spoken to Australian High Commissioner Miles Kupa on the matter.

“I explained to him the procedures and decision," he said, adding that the envoy understood the decision.

Senator a 'trouble-maker'

Meanwhile, the move has been lauded by the the Young Journalists Club of Malaysia, who described the senator as a “trouble-maker who seeks to intervene in the country’s internal affairs, especially on the process relating to the impending 13th general election”.

nick xenophon 290412 Xenophon had observed last year’s Bersih 3.0 rally as part of an international fact-finding mission on the Malaysian electoral system.

In a statement, club president Dzulkarnain Taib stated that the action of the opposition in exploiting a lawmaker from a country which fosters close ties with Malaysia, is both irresponsible and has an “element of treachery”.

“The Young Journalists Club holds to the principle of ‘Our Country, Our Responsibility’, hence, any attempt by the opposition to bring in individuals such as senator Xenophon must be contained and opposed,” he said.