Former MP Shamsul Iskandar asks court to lift passport ban amid corruption case

Shamsul Iskandar submitted an application on Sept 30 requesting that his passport be permanently released so he can travel abroad for work, including the Frankfurt Book Fair, the AlBaraka Summit in London, a consultancy visit to Ireland, and discussions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his affidavit he highlighted the potential benefits for Malaysia’s Islamic finance sector and bilateral ties. Deputy public prosecutor Julaila Jamaludin objected, noting the documents are merely invitation letters and lack flight tickets, and suggested the meetings could be held online.

Judge Suzana Hussin approved a temporary passport release for the Frankfurt and London trips and scheduled a decision on the permanent release for Dec 8. The request comes as Shamsul, a former Hang Tuah Jaya MP, remains charged with accepting RM100,000 and additional cash and goods from businessman Albert Tei to facilitate mineral-exploration licences in Sabah, with related rent-payment allegations in a separate case now joined for trial.