Arrest warrant out for fugitive Jamal, blacklisted by immigration

An arrest warrant has been issued for Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos after he failed to surrender to the police.

Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said Jamal was given ample time to surrender and cooperate with regard to their investigations against him.

"However, he still failed (to turn up) and instead made a statement trying to give the impression that his safety was threatened," he added in a statement this afternoon.

Fuzi also urged those with information on Jamal's whereabouts to inform the police.

Meanwhile, immigration department director-general Mustafar Ali said Jamal is barred from leaving Malaysia.

This is amid speculation that the firebrand politician had fled to Indonesia.

Mustafar, however, said there was no record of Jamal leaving the country.

Last Friday, Jamal was charged under Section 290 of the Penal Code relating to public nuisance over a protest outside the Selangor state secretariat building in Shah Alam last October.

During the protest, he had smashed several crates of beer bottles.

Jamal is also being investigated under Section 34 of the Arms Act 1960 for carrying a firearm while in a drunk or disorderly state.

Last week, the Umno division leader was charged while receiving treatment at the Ampang KPJ specialist hospital for back pain.

However, he disappeared from the hospital before the bail process could be completed.

He later resurfaced but denied fleeing from police custody.

He claimed that he had gone to the Lembaga Tabung Haji building to withdraw money to foot the cost of his case.

In a statement on Tuesday, Jamal promised to surrender at the Ampang Jaya district police headquarters the next day.

However, Jamal did not turn up on Wednesday and instead appeared in a video that was taken at an undisclosed oil palm plantation.

In the video, Jamal said he feared for his safety and accused the current government of victimising him. -Mkini