His lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo, said he would also file a certificate of urgency as this was a public interest case.

“We will write in to get an early date for the court to hear the appeal,” Gobind told FMT in response to an update on Pua’s matter.

On July 27, Pua failed in his bid to challenge the Immigration Department for banning him from travelling abroad.

Justice Hanipah Farikullah ruled the department’s ban was constitutional as the director-general had the power to restrict a person from travelling abroad.

She said the director-general had received a letter from the police to stop Pua from leaving Malaysia as he was investigated for activities allegedly detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

Soon after the court’s ruling, Pua filed his notice of appeal but the appeal process is delayed as Hanipah has yet to provide a written judgment.

A court circular states judges must provide the grounds of judgment within eight weeks once an appeal is filed.

Gobind said this matter would eventually have to be decided by the Federal Court due to two conflicting decisions made earlier by the apex court.

“This case also touches on the fundamental liberty of citizens and the Federal Court ought to provide guidance to the High Court and the Immigration Department,” he said.

In August, Bersih Chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah filed a lawsuit to challenge a travel ban imposed on her.

In May, then Immigration Director-General Sakib Kusmi said the government could use its discretion to either issue, defer or revoke a Malaysian international passport as the travel document was issued under the aegis of the Yang Di -Pertuan Agong.

He said a passport holder could be prevented from leaving the country for up to three years to safeguard the country’s image.