PEOPLE FIRST: Hishammuddin (right) receives warm greetings from the Orang Asli community at Pengkalan Tereh. — Bernama photo
KLUANG: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the extradition of the Iranian suspect believed to be involved in a series of bombings in Bangkok is largely dependent on the law.
He said the extradition process was also contingent upon a request from the Thai authorities and Malaysia was prepared to cooperate fully in the situation.
“For the time being, the Iranian man is still in detention here. The extradition process is largely dependant on the law,” he told reporters after a meet-the-people session in Kampung Orang Asli Pengkalan Tereh yesterday.
Hishammuddin, Sembrong MP, said the Malaysian authorities were in close contact with Thailand and Iran to sort the matter out.
He remarked that no country in the world was safe from the threat of terrorists in this global age and that the nation’s authorities were on the constant look out to ensure national security.
Malaysian Immigration detained the Iranian, Masoud Sedaghat Zadeh, 31, about 3.30pm on Feb 15 at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal while he was in transit from Bangkok the previous night, enroute to Iran.
He was detained on suspicion of being involved in an attempted bomb attack in Bangkok on Feb 14.
On another development, Hishammuddin who is also Umno vice-president described opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as belittling the Syura Council and PAS leadership because he has yet to clarify his support for Israel’s security efforts.
“Now even PAS, which is Anwar’s good friend, has asked for an explanation but he says PAS has misunderstood. This is belittling the Syura Council and the PAS leadership. There’s no way out, he has to answer whether he recognises Israel or not. He also has to answer to other countries and proponents of Islam,” he said.
Commenting on rumours about his potential selection as Johor Menteri Besar, Hishammuddin said this was not the time for such speculations but rather the time to strengthen the machinery for the upcoming general election instead.
“All this is the prerogative and decision of the Prime Minister, the position is not important to me. We should be strengthening the election machinery to win for Barisan Nasional,” he emphasised. — Bernama