Immigration authorities have deferred the planned deportation of an Indonesian preacher today suspected to be a senior member of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terror network, according to an AFP report.

Mohamad Iqbal Abdul Rahman, 46, an Indonesian with permanent resident status in Malaysia, was arrested in June 2001 under the Internal Security Act for alleged militant links.

He was released in August but immigration officers revoked his permanent resident status and immediately arrested him pending deportation to Indonesia.

The alleged militant has appealed to the High Court against a declaration that he is an undesirable person and a prohibited immigrant.

Wife disappointed

His wife Fatimah Zahrah Abdul Aziz said she was informed by the immigration department to prepare to join her husband, currently held at a detention centre in Terengganu state at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport this morning to return to Jakarta but he didn't turn up.

"He didn't show up. When I called the immigration to check, I was told the deportation has been postponed but I don't know why. I am very disappointed," she said.

Fatimah said her husband was not a wanted man, nor has he any criminal records in Indonesia. They have lived in Malaysia for 20 years and he is just a "simple religious preacher," she said.

No new date has been set for the deportation. Immigration officials were not available for comments.

Indonesia has said it would question Mohamad Iqbal about his possible links to terrorism if he were sent back to Indonesia.

The father of nine is suspected of being among the top echelons of the al-Qaeda-linked JI terror group, along with Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir and Hambali, alleged operations chief who is now in US custody.

On Friday, malaysiakini reported that his wife had asked the immigration department to deport him as possible as the family could not cope with his continued incarceration.

However, Fatimah stressed that the legal tussle over her husband's PR status would continue.