Suspected terrorist Mohd Iqbal Abdul Rahman was still being held at the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department headquarters in Damansara, said an official today.

However, this contradicted Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement earlier that the 46-year-old religious preacher has already been deported.

At press time, Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department public relations officer Ahmad Shukri told malaysiakini that Mohd Iqbal was still in custody here and awaiting deportation.

"He is still here (in Damansara depot) until the process to deport him is finalised," he said but could not confirm when the deportation will be carried out.