Kuala Lumpur, July 14 : Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri has told his country’s Parliament that immigration officials had never seized the passport of Hindraf leader P. Waythamoorthy, although there were orders to do so.

Bakri said the Hindraf chairman, who was reported to be in the United Kingdom, is still free to travel around.

“We had received orders to cancel his passport but no actions have been taken so far and Waythamoorthy still has his passport overseas, and moves around as a valid Malaysian passport holder,” The Star quoted Bakri, as saying while replying to a supplementary question by Chua Tian Chang of the PKR-Batu.

He also said the Government felt that it was not necessary to monitor Waythamoorthy''s movements.

To another question by Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), Abdul Rahim said the Government would welcome Waythamoorthy if he wanted to return to the country and cooperate with the authorities.

He said other Hindraf leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act as a preventive measure to ensure peace and stability in the country. (ANI)