The Kuala Lumpur High Court has approved the release of Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez's passport, enabling her to attend a week-long regional conference in China beginning this Saturday.

She will be attending the Food and Agriculture Organisation Regional Conference and the International Planning Committee Meeting on Food Sovereignty for Asia Pacific from May 15-21 in Beijing.

Justice Abdul Kadir Musa approved the conditional release at 3.30pm yesterday.

Tenaganita coordinator Aegile Fernandez said her sister is required to report at the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing upon arrival on May 14 and notify them of her departure 48 hours before leaving for home.

"Irene is expected to uphold 'the Malaysian flag' (the country's image) while in China," she said in a statement today.

"The judge stressed that the court can only know if she would repeat the offence when she is permitted to go overseas to represent the country and her organisation at conferences and consultations."

Return passport on May 24

Aegile said the judge also ordered for the release of the passport at 4.20pm to facilitate the visa application.

"She (Irene) has to return the passport on May 24 to the magistrate's court."

Last week, the magistrate's court rejected Fernandez's application for the third time without giving any reason.

She has been denied access to he passport following a conviction last October which entailed a 12-month jail term for publishing false news.

M Puravalen represented Fernandez in court.