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Malaysia 'lenient' on Budgie Nine: PM

The prime minister says the "Budgie Nine" were treated leniently by Malaysian authorities who released them without conviction.

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Source: AAP


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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the Malaysian authorities have been "very lenient" in releasing the so-called "Budgie Nine" with a warning.

Eight of the nine young men are on their way back to Australia after spending four days locked up in a Malaysian prison for stripping down to their budgie smugglers at the Grand Prix.

Mr Turnbull said it was appropriate for the men to apologise in court on Thursday, describing them as "very repentant".

"They are on their way home and that's good," he told FIVEaa radio on Friday.

"I think the Malaysia authorities were very lenient."

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Jack Walker, an adviser to Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, remains in Malaysia.

The prime minister will be talking to Mr Pyne when he returns from overseas about Mr Walker's future as a ministerial adviser.

"He needs to have a very hard look at himself and I'm sure will be considering his future carefully."

The nine men pleaded guilty to being a public nuisance but were cautioned and released without conviction.


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