Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed told this to reporters at Parliament lobby today when explaining the reason the duo were deported instead of being charged in court as initially planned.
“The AG, through his staff, decided not to charge these journalists. They were supposed to be charged, but the deputy public prosecutor said there was no need for that.
“But they were deported because of the Immigration Act. Under the act, they were supposed to have applied for a specific work permit to perform their duties as journalists in Sarawak.”
Australian Broadcasting Channel journalist Linton Besser, 39, and camera operator Louie Eroglu, 51, were arrested in Kuching last Saturday for allegedly approaching Prime Minister Najib Razak in an “aggressive” manner in an attempt to ask him questions.
Nur Jazlan said despite the incident, the duo could return to the country as tourists, but they would have to make sure not to break any laws.
“If they’ve been deported, that means they have done something wrong. When they come back, we will see. They can come in and out of the country and as long as they don’t break any laws, then it’s okay.
“If they come as tourists, then there is no problem, but if they come back and break any law, then there will be a problem.
“The point is they must understand how laws on journalists are applied in Sarawak,” he added.
When asked if the incident would affect diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Australia, Nur Jazlan said the relationship between the two countries was bigger than the conduct of the two journalists.
“The conduct of the two journalists will not affect our relationship. The fact is they did not follow our law and they got deported. That’s it.”