"Every nation has a sovereign right to deny a person entry into the
country if the immigration authorities deemed the person undesirable
"In such a case, there is no obligation to explain why they (immigration authorities) are exercising this right," he told reporters this at a press conference here.
He denied Anwar's claims that Wisma Putra was behind the incident, saying that the Japanese authorities had invoked Article 5 of its Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act to bar Anwar entry into Japan.
"It is unthinkable that Wisma Putra or I could have such influence over another sovereign country.
"We have nothing to do with it," he said.
He also denied Anwar's claims that he may have been barred from entering Japan due to a 2013 report on him from Wisma Putra.
"I have never submitted any reports (on Anwar) to Japan,"
"Why would we need to submit any report to stop from him from travelling to other countries when his (Anwar's) conviction is public knowledge," he added.
Anifah said that Wisma Putra had contacted the Japanese Embassy in Tokyo to seek clarification over the incident as it involved a Malaysian citizen and not because it was Anwar.
"It doesn't matter if the person was from the government or opposition or whatever party the person belongs to.
"For us, Anwar is a Malaysian citizen," he added.
He added there was no necessity for Wisma Putra to pursue the matter.
He explained that was also the case when Malaysian immigration denied entry to controversial Autralian senator Nick Xenopon last year.
Meanwhile, the Japanese embassy in Malaysia is waiting for a report from Tokyo about why Anwar was turned away.
Embassy spokesperson Tomoko Nagai said Monday that the embassy is unable to comment on the matter as no conclusive report was received from Tokyo.
Anwar was barred from entering Japan on Sunday, and was told to board the first flight back or face deportation.
It was reported that he was denied entry to the country because of his conviction in 1999.
Anwar, however, is claiming that he entered Japan without any problem thrice before and it did not make sense for his entry to be denied now.
It is understood that the Japanese government does not allow anyone with previous criminal convictions to enter the country without clearance by the Law Ministry, which could be the reason Anwar was barred.
Anwar said he went to Tokyo upon the invitation of Nippon Foundation chairman Yohei Sasakawa to present a paper on Muslim Democrats.
"In such a case, there is no obligation to explain why they (immigration authorities) are exercising this right," he told reporters this at a press conference here.
He denied Anwar's claims that Wisma Putra was behind the incident, saying that the Japanese authorities had invoked Article 5 of its Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act to bar Anwar entry into Japan.
"It is unthinkable that Wisma Putra or I could have such influence over another sovereign country.
"We have nothing to do with it," he said.
He also denied Anwar's claims that he may have been barred from entering Japan due to a 2013 report on him from Wisma Putra.
"I have never submitted any reports (on Anwar) to Japan,"
"Why would we need to submit any report to stop from him from travelling to other countries when his (Anwar's) conviction is public knowledge," he added.
Anifah said that Wisma Putra had contacted the Japanese Embassy in Tokyo to seek clarification over the incident as it involved a Malaysian citizen and not because it was Anwar.
"It doesn't matter if the person was from the government or opposition or whatever party the person belongs to.
"For us, Anwar is a Malaysian citizen," he added.
He added there was no necessity for Wisma Putra to pursue the matter.
He explained that was also the case when Malaysian immigration denied entry to controversial Autralian senator Nick Xenopon last year.
Meanwhile, the Japanese embassy in Malaysia is waiting for a report from Tokyo about why Anwar was turned away.
Embassy spokesperson Tomoko Nagai said Monday that the embassy is unable to comment on the matter as no conclusive report was received from Tokyo.
Anwar was barred from entering Japan on Sunday, and was told to board the first flight back or face deportation.
It was reported that he was denied entry to the country because of his conviction in 1999.
Anwar, however, is claiming that he entered Japan without any problem thrice before and it did not make sense for his entry to be denied now.
It is understood that the Japanese government does not allow anyone with previous criminal convictions to enter the country without clearance by the Law Ministry, which could be the reason Anwar was barred.
Anwar said he went to Tokyo upon the invitation of Nippon Foundation chairman Yohei Sasakawa to present a paper on Muslim Democrats.
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