Independent Senator Nick Xenophon is facing deportation from Malaysia after being refused entry.
UPDATE: A RELIEVED Senator Nick Xenophon says he was told he posed "some form of security threat" and had to be deported immediately from Malaysia.
Senator Xenophon, who was forced to sleep on a plane in economy class for two nights, was leading a group of Australian MPs for a series of meetings about Malaysia's electoral system.
He was meeting with the country's Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and a senior Government minister.
"My information is this (deportation) order was made at the highest levels of the Malaysian Government."
Senator Xenophon said initially he was taken to an interrogation area where there were holding cells and detainees.
"I was told that I was going to be deported immediately because I posed some form of security threat which I think is both laughable and tragic that the allegation was made and no reason was given. I was only handed this notice as I was leaving last night, as I was being escorted back onto the plane."
He said he did not believe the drama would harm Australia's relation with Malaysia, saying the two countries were the "greatest of friends".
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she was also disappointed with treatment of Senator Xenophon, and is glad he is back, "safe and well".
She said they would continue to work with the Malaysian goverment over the incident.
Senator Nick Xenaphon returns to Australia after being deported from Malaysia. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
A tired Senator Xenophon arrived in Melbourne this morning saying he was still scratching his head trying to work out what Malaysian authorities were thinking.
"I think they have made a big mistake, that they have miscalculated " Senator Xenophon said.
Senator Xenophon said it was meant to be a low-key visit which probably would have received little media coverage.
"It is very good to be back."
Senator Xenophon said while the upcoming Malaysian elections had the "veneer of democracy", Australia had a moral obligation to intervene to ensure they were clean and fair.
He urged Foreign Minister Bob Carr and Prime Minister Julia Gillard to raise the Malaysian elections with the Commonwealth Secretary in London as a matter of urgency.
"Millions of Malaysians see Australia as a shining beacon of democracy in the region and seek our help for independent election observers."
Senator Xenophon said he may challenge the deportation notice in the Malaysian courts.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr says Malaysia's detention of independent senator Nick Xenophon is a surprising act
He said he understood he was the first Australian MP to be deported from any country.
"It was unexpected. I was quite gobsmacked when I was taken away early on."
"I have been told I'm now on the watch list, which is fairly ominous and that I'm on a do not enter list for an indefinite period, so I don't know how many years or decades it will be before I'm allowed to step foot on Malaysian soil, which is a great pity."
Senator Xenophon said the only risk he posed was to embarrassing the Malaysian Government through his advocacy for clean elections."
The independent Senator was stopped immediately on arrival in Malaysia, held in custody for 16 hours and put under security detail.
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd told Sky News today that: "detaining any member of an Australian parliament is just unacceptable".
"I'm sure Bob Carr has the matter well in hand."
While he said that he would disagree with Senator Xenophon on a range of matters, he said Australia should be "robust" with Malaysia over the incident.
Senator Nick Xenophon being detained at Kuala Lumpur's International Airport in Malaysia. Picture: Office of Nick Xenophon
"I think we should be appropriately robust," he said.
"It is absolutely laughable - I was due to have a meeting with a senior Government Minister among others," Senator Xenophon said from an interrogation room where he was being held.
"The people detaining me have been polite but they told me the orders to get me out of the country immediately came from 'high up'.
"They told me I am being deported under Section 81 of the Immigration Act, which says I pose a threat to the security of the country.
"This was supposed to be a low-key visit by members of the major parties but now it has blown up into an international incident. It confirms all the concerns that have been raised about people being opposed to any kind of electoral reform."
His detainment triggered a diplomatic incident, with Foreign Minister Bob Carr demanding his immediate release.
"We are seeking a full explanation of this," he said. "We think it is sad for a friendly country to deport an Australian member of Parliament, who was up there for peaceful purposes."
Australia's concerns were immediately raised with Malaysia's Foreign Minister, the Minister for Home Affairs and the Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia.
Senator Nick Xenaphon talks to reporters at Melbourne Airport. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Austalian High Commissioner Miles Kupa was allowed to see Senator Xenophon late yesterday - bringing him a takaway meal to supplement the biscuits he was fed - and he was moved from an interrogation room adjoining female prison cells to an office area before being taken to an airport lounge.
Senator Xenophon co-authored an international observers' group report released last year on the Malaysian electoral system that was critical of gerrymanders and that called for significant electoral reform.
His deportation caused an Australian delegation of MPs to cancel their planned visit to the country.
Liberal MP Mal Washer, Nationals Senator John Williams and ALP MP Steve Georganas were to join Senator Xenophon to meet Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, as well as Malaysia's minister in charge of parliamentary affairs Mohammed Nazri ahead of Malaysia's elections.
Senator Xenophon joined the Customs queue on arrival at Kuala Lumpur but was told there were "irregularities" with his passport and was taken to an interrogation room.
He was told he was not allowed to make calls but managed to make a call to the Sunday Mail when he was briefly left unattended and send a photograph of himself.
Senator Xenophon, who paid for his own trip, had planned to stay in Malaysia until Tuesday night. He says he will frame his deportation notice.
Nick Xenophon's deportation notice
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