“The police took the action because they have proof and they feel they should not be in the country,” he told reporters after a meeting with top Pakatan Harapan leaders here.

Arif Komis, 43, his wife and their four young daughters were detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport before they were put on a flight to Turkey today.

Komis, who works at the Time International School as a chemistry teacher, was arrested by Malaysian police on Aug 28. He is among thousands of Turkish nationals abroad accused by Ankara of being part of the Gulen group, a faith-based social movement inspired by the teachings of exiled Turkish Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen.

The Gulen movement has been accused of plotting the overthrow of the Turkish government during the failed coup of 2016.

The move to deport Komis sparked angry responses from global rights groups and prominent activists, including former Malaysian ambassador Dennis Ignatius who compared the treatment on Komis to Malaysia’s refusal to deport fugitive Indian Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik.

But Mahathir rejected any suggestions of double standards, saying those who say so were just out to create controversy.

Malaysia has been among countries who have obliged requests by Turkey to deport its nationals seeking asylum abroad.

In 2017, Malaysia deported three Turkish nationals upon Ankara’s request, drawing condemnation from rights groups.

Turgay Karaman, Ismet Ozcelik and Ihsan Aslan were deported to Turkey despite pleas from their families.

Earlier this year, Malaysian police deported four Egyptian nationals wanted by the military regime in Cairo.