Dispelling concerns from the public that ex-PM Najib Razak is planning to exit Malaysia from Langkawi, the Malaysian immigration chief this is not going to happen.
Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali assured Malaysians that Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor are still in the country.
He said they were holidaying in Langkawi, staying at the lavish St Regis Hotel, and that their arrival in the resort island was verified by Kedah immigration department.
The immigration chief also said they were not allowed to leave the country while the anti-corruption agency the MACC is yet to wrap up its investigations on their alleged involvement in the 1MDB’s suspected money laundering crimes.
The Malay Mail website said pictures of several trolleys of luggage seen at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Selangor and later at the Langkawi International Airport in Kedah went viral, spreading rumours the couple was on the run.
Several Malaysians expressed alarm when a Facebook user claimed to have spotted Najib near the hallway for international departures.
The country was abuzz of rumours of Najib fleeing the country after he lost the elections to the Pakatan Harapan.
Newly minted PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad quickly ordered the immigration department to bar Najib and his wife from leaving the country.
Najib reportedly said he and Rosmah were heading for holiday to Bali to relax after the election defeat.