He was responding to a recent plea by the family of a Bangladeshi politician to have their MM2H visas reinstated.

Saifuddin said that a MM2H visa, which falls under the purview of the immigration department, would be cancelled if the holder’s passport is revoked by the country which issued it.

“For someone to attain the MM2H visa, their passport from the country of origin must be valid.

“If their passport is invalid for any reason, this will impact their MM2H application or their status as an MM2H participant,” he told reporters after officiating the Shaftsbury passport office here today.

On Feb 9, the family of Bangladeshi politician, MA Quayum, who was released from detention by the immigration department, pleaded with the government to reinstate their MM2H visas which were cancelled after his arrest on Jan 12.

However, to date, the status of Quayum’s passport has not been made public.

The family said they hope the government would “uphold” the rights of refugees and victims of political persecution, adding that they fear for their safety should they be deported.

Quayum, his wife Shahamin Ara Begum and daughter Arnita Tasnim Ankaur have been in Malaysia since 2013. They have valid refugee status under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

They subsequently obtained MM2H visas.

Quayum, a leader from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was arrested in a joint operation between the police and Bangladeshi intelligence on Jan 12.

On Jan 31, the Kuala Lumpur High Court compelled the immigration department to abide by a Jan 18 court order staying his deportation pending the disposal of his April 5 habeas corpus application.

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