KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's application to temporarily retrieve his passport to travel to Thailand will be heard at the Sessions Court here tomorrow.
Checks on the Judicial Department's case list show that the application will be heard before Judge Azura Alwi at 9am.
The Perikatan Nasional chairman, on Jan 31, has applied to temporarily retrieve the document as he needs to go to Bangkok to attend the opening of a restaurant there on Feb 15.
This is despite the Pagoh member of parliament having a court proceeding on the same date, and his presence is required before the same court.
Muhyiddin, in his affidavit said he needed the document until Feb 23 to enable him to travel to Bangkok.
"A close acquaintance of mine, who is also a Malaysian, has recently opened a Thai cuisine restaurant.
"They wish to inaugurate the restaurant and have invited me to the opening event as a token of appreciation for my role as a leader of Malaysia," he said.
Muhyiddin said the visit was necessary as he would also meet with Malaysian businessmen in Thailand to discuss business matters beneficial to the bilateral relationship between both countries.
He said he would visit several leaders, thinkers, and Islamic community figures in Bangkok to continue relationships beyond government circles.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong objected to the application by stating that the reasons were unreasonable and lacked the urgency to justify the temporary release of the applicant's passport.
"Additionally, the applicant's explanations lack supporting evidence in his affidavit," he said.
The court has scheduled Feb 15 to hear Muhyiddin's application to dismiss all his money laundering charges totalling RM200 million and the prosecution's application to adjourn the trial.
"His presence is mandatory. The applicant is fully aware of this, yet he made flight reservations for that date.
"The applicant's risk of fleeing still exists because he faces three money laundering charges.
"I firmly believe that the applicant's request will disrupt the hearing on that date (Feb 15) and inconvenience the court proceedings," he said.
On Nov 29, last year, the same court dismissed Muhyiddin's application to retrieve his passport permanently.
However, it allowed the temporary release of the document for his travel to London with his family members.
On Aug 15, the same year, High Court Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin acquitted and discharged the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president on all four charges of abuse of power.
In his judgment, Jamil said that all four charges were defective and in bad faith.
He said the charges lacked details and that the accused was charged with offences unknown to the law.
Following the development, on Oct 4, Muhyiddin filed an application to strike out his remaining three money laundering charges linked to the Jana Wibawa scandal.
He also wanted the Sessions Court to grant him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) from the charges.
He argued that the money laundering charges would not stand as they were predicated on the main ones, which were dropped recently.