PETALING JAYA: In contrast to fellow asylum seeker and sex blogger Alvin Tan, activist Ali Abd Jalil still harbours hopes of returning to Malaysia one day, drawing inspiration from activist friends who are still here. Ali, 30, who is living in Morsta, Sweden, while waiting for full asylum status, said he will surely return to his homeland when things are safer for him, admitting that he misses family and friends.
“I really love and miss Malaysia, especially family and friends. If the situation in Malaysia is well and safe, surely I will return to Malaysia,” he told The Malaysian Insider recently.
He also recalled his friendship with other activists “through thick and thin”, adding that although he is physically in Sweden, “my heart is still in Malaysia”.
Ali was contacted after former sex blogger Tan recently declared that he would never return to Malaysia “even if they roll out a red carpet for me and pop some champagne for me,” as he was quoted saying in news reports.
Tan was cleared of criminal charges of stirring interracial conflict over a Facebook post in 2013 he made with then girlfriend, Vivien Lee, of the couple eating a pork dish and wishing Muslims “Selamat berbuka puasa” during the fasting month. On Feb 18, the Federal Court dismissed the government’s appeal to reinstate the charge against Tan and Lee under Section 289A of the Penal Code.
But Tan said returning to Malaysia is not an option, “no matter how many charges they drop”. He has also been under investigation for sedition after mocking the national leadership.
Ali, who faces charges under the Sedition Act 1948 for criticising royalty, said his friends and other activists in Malaysia still inspire him. “Friends are my source of inspiration. We met and moved on the street together, through thick and thin. This is a sweet memory that I can’t never forget, [our] brotherhood is our strength,” Ali said.
“I have known many people from different backgrounds,” he added, mentioning the separatist groups Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh Movement) and Gerakan Pembebasan Patani.
Ali said he believes Malaysian youth will make a difference in the future because they possess greater political awareness and knowledge.
“Now I see a significant rise of the youth, with many young people starting to have more class awareness and becoming wiser in evaluating facts. The working class is getting stronger, they need to be united.”
Ali sought political asylum in Sweden on Oct 21 after fleeing Malaysia following charges under the Sedition Act for criticising the Sultan of Johor.
He found passage to Sweden with the help of several human rights groups after he said that his life was in danger. Ali had said that he was being tailed by thugs upon his release from prison. While in prison, he claimed a policeman had beaten him up and lodged a police report against the officer.
Ali’s re-arrest and detention time of more than 20 days in the police lock-up prompted his lawyer to describe his treatment as a “sedition roadshow”, designed to intimidate others and make an example out of Ali. The activist was taken by police from Selangor to Johor, in total spending more days in the lock-up “than a murder suspect”, his lawyer had said.
Ali said he now has a temporary asylum card and a work permit, while waiting for the asylum process to be completed. “My situation here is fine. People here treat me well. I have been given a temporary asylum card while waiting for my asylum process to be completed,” he said.
He said young people should take to voicing their views, adding that they have the advantage of technology now. — The Malaysian Insider
This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 2, 2015.