Singapore alleged Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari was handed over to the republic yesterday after it was decided that he was no longer a security threat to Malaysia.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the decision was made after discussions between Malaysia and Singapore, besides the security and intelligence agencies as well as the special task force of both countries confirming that Mas Selamat was no longer a threat.

"I was briefed that Mas Selamat was no longer a security threat to our country. He is from Singapore and I had said before that if a foreigner arrested is not a security threat to us, he should be sent back to his country of origin," he told reporters after the Sembrong parliamentary constituency's Raya open house in Taman Sri Lambak, Kluang, today.

On the suggestion that the deportation of the JI leader to Singapore could possibly be on the request made through Prime Minister Najib Razak's visit to Singapore recently, Hishammuddin said the request was in fact made by Singapore some time ago.

"The request was made because Mas Selamat is a Singapore citizen, but as long as we were not satisfied that he was no longer a security threat, we had to take the necessary precautions.

"But from our own investigation, I felt that it was time for us to hand over Mas Selamat to the Singapore authority," he said.

Mas Selamat was arrested on April 1, last year after he was found hiding in Johor since March 2008.

Before that he was arrested by the Singapore authority under the Internal Security Act, but managed to escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Feb 27, last year.

Zunar’s arrest nothing to do with PM, DPM

On the arrest of cartoonist Zunar yesterday, Hishammuddin who is also Sembrong member of parliament, said the arrest was made after his book of cartoons that touched on the country's legal system and religion, including the ‘Allah’ issue, was found to be detrimental to public order.

"Many try to link the arrest to his cartoons that touch on the prime minister and deputy prime minister but I've been informed that this is not the reason," he said.

Zunar, or his real name, Zulkiflee SM Anwarul Haque, 49, was arrested under the Sedition Act 1948 for his latest book, Cartoon-o-phobia, which touches on sensitive issues.

He was arrested at the office of his publishing company, Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd, in the federal capital at about 4pm yesterday.

- Bernama