KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been granted a temporary release of his passport to visit a sick family member in Australia.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed the Bersatu chief's application and ordered the travel document to be released on Wednesday and for it to be returned to the court on May 28.

This comes after there were no objections from the prosecution. Deputy public prosecutor Nor Asma Ahmad told the court that the reasons behind the application were justified.

Earlier, Muhyiddin's lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik informed the court that the Perikatan Nasional chairman had to travel to visit a close family member who is above 80 years old and whose cancer was in remission.

The Pagoh Member of Parliament's passport is currently under the court's possession as part of his bail conditions in his criminal case.

Previously in February, the court had also granted a temporary return of his passport for him to travel Thailand, specifically Bangkok, to attend the grand opening of a restaurant.

June 13 hearing for stay

Muhyiddin currently faces four abuse of power charges in relation to the Jana Wibawa programme, and three money-laundering charges.

The High Court had struck out his corruption charges and given him a discharge and acquittal last year. The prosecution had appealed against the decision, and in late February, the Court of Appeal reinstated the charges.

The former PM then filed a review application, which will be heard on July 9.

On Wednesday, the Sessions Court was also informed of the review date and the defence's application for a stay to pause the proceedings of the criminal case, pending the review at the appellate court. The prosecution is opposing the stay application.

The court then fixed June 13 to hear the stay application.