Salman Majid is a Malaysian, rules court

2009/11/24

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) today declared a carpet dealer cum businessman a Malaysian and revoked the Immigration Department's 2005 order to deport him to Pakistan. Justice Datuk Lau Bee Lan, in making the decision in chambers, also allowed the damages sought by Salman Majid, 47, who was held at the KL International Airport immigration depot for 199 days.

Senior Federal Counsel Sharifah Hascindie (rpt) Hascindie, who appeared for the director-general of Immigration and the government, told reporters the court ruled in favour of Salman after the first defendant failed to show proof that the plaintiff had obtained his identity card fraudulently.

Sharifah said she would seek further instruction from the Attorney-General''s Chambers on whether to file an appeal against the court''s decision.

In a statement of claim filed on March 25, 2005, Salman had stated that he was detained at KLIA on March 12, 2005 and his passport was seized by immigration officers.

Salman had also stated that he possesses all the relevant documents to proof that he is a Malaysian citizen and had the right to be heard before being deported, and claimed that the Immigration Department's action of revoking his citizenship was against the Federal Constitution.

Salman''s counsel, Karpal Singh, said today's ruling was a test case which would affect foreigners who faced a similar predicament after having obtained citizenship via the legal process.

Salman said he was happy since he been declared a Malaysian citizen after having lived in the country for more than 20 years, whereby three of his six children were born in Malaysia.

He said he hoped that the authorities, especially the police, would step up their investigation against all those who tried to frame him and resulted in him not only losing his business but also having been involved in a bitter dispute with the Immigration Department.

Salman said he had lodged seven police reports over money amounting to nearly RM1 million missing from his account, but so far he had not been informed of the progress of the investigation.

Initially, Salman filed a habeas corpus application for his release but before the case was heard, he was set free on bail.

Salman''s case was widely reported by the media after he alleged that senior immigration officers had threatened to deport him over his police reports on the money missing from his account.