SUBANG JAYA: Malaysia should not be seen as safe haven for terrorists or criminals, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.
"The world should not label or view our country as one that harbours individuals or groups who are a threat to our national security, or a safe a transit point for such people," he said after attending an international conference on "Principle Policing: Rule of Law, Public Order & Sustainable Development" at a hotel here yesterday.
"If you are wanted or sought after by your government, don't come to Malaysia."
He was commenting on the deportation of Saudi writer Hamza Kashgari, who was accused of insulting Prophet Muhammad in a a tweet on the occasion of the prophet's birthday on Feb 4.
Following threats, the 23-year-old poet and former newspaper columnist left Saudi Arabia and headed for Malaysia enroute to New Zealand to seek asylum but was detained upon arrival at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on Thursday before he was deported to his home country last Sunday.
It was reported a group of lawyers obtained a court injunction from a High Court judge but could not stop the deportation in time.
Asked about events leading to the move, Hishammuddin declined to reveal them, except to say it was based on the sharing on information between the two countries.
"I cannot reveal standard operating procedures regarding this which involved relevant agencies. It was based on trust and it is not about government policy. If you are wanted in your country, don't come here," he said.
Hishammuddin also denied that the government was handed a court injunction nor did it receive a request from Interpol.
"We didn't receive any court injunction, and the request came straight from the Saudi government and from no other party," he said.
Asked what action would be taken if a Malaysian had committed the same act, he said the government would deal with it accordingly using relevant and existing laws.
Earlier in his speech, Hishammuddin said he had submitted his "report card" to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week on the National Key Results Areas (NKRA) performances which had produced great results.
"I met the prime minister and showed him that in 2011, the NKRA recorded a drop of 11.1 per cent in overall crime index and a 39.7 per cent in street crimes," he said.
"Furthermore, 2011 also saw the satisfaction index of the public on the frontline service of the police which soared to 70.5 per cent, which way above the 60 per cent target.
"There was an increase in number of arrest cases brought to trial where we achieved 23.5 per cent against the 20 per cent of the set target.
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