JUST BECAUSE HE ATTENDED TONY PUA'S FORUM: Special Branch tried to intimidate my family - scholar

KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian scholar accused of sedition for speaking at an Australian forum attended by an opposition lawmaker alleged that two members of the Special Branch previously visited his family in Penang to discuss “scholarship matters”.

Aslam Abd Jalil, who is studying at the Australian National University (ANU) on a public scholarship, also claimed that this is not the first time that he has come in for scrutiny for his role at public forums, describing a pervasive campaign waged against Malaysian students Down Under.

“Not satisfied by my explanation about my involvement in a forum which was held last year and, without due consultation, two Special Branch officers came to my aunt’s house in Penang, Malaysia, (they mistakenly thought that my parents still lived in the house) with the intention of meeting my parents to discuss ‘scholarship matters’,” Aslam said in an opinion piece sent to the media today.

In it, he described the visit by the police intelligence unit as a “blatant attempt” to intimidate him and his family, which he said was also intentionally timed to coincide with his examinations.

Aslam was allegedly ordered by a Public Services Department (PSD) officer to show cause following his involvement at a forum in Canberra that included DAP MP Tony Pua, failing which he would face unspecified action.

Today, Aslam maintained that none of his remarks made at the forum titled "Race, Religion and Royalty in Malaysia", which was held at the Canberra university on April 22, were seditious in nature, and said he was instead advocating reforms in Malaysia to stop racial and religious hatred and discrimination.

He then urged Malaysian authorities to be more accepting of brickbats, explaining that this was not necessarily meant to be injurious but rather to help the country improve.

“Part of what we learn in Australia is to always be constructively critical about what is happening around us, and this includes Malaysia. Constructive criticism is not about blaming each other, it is a pathway towards finding solutions,” Aslam added.

Aslam Abd Jalil

Aslam Abd Jalil

His case came to light last Friday when Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad revealed the show-cause letter purportedly sent to him a PSD officer on June 18 for breaching Clause 5.5 of his scholarship agreement which prohibits taking part in “seditious” activities or protests.

The Seri Setia assemblyman also alleged that the clause has been constantly abused to victimise students who are critical of the government.

The same clause has never been used on members of Umno clubs abroad and pro-government associations despite the more controversial topics raised in their events, said Nik Nazmi.

Aslam also previously spoke at another forum on May 26, 2014 with Nik Nazmi and Selangor Speaker Hannah Yeoh.

This is not the first reported instance that Malaysian scholars abroad have come in for attention over events involving members of the country’s opposition.

In October 2013, an officer identified as Shahrezan had also allegedly cautioned PSD scholars against joining an event featuring Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Citing an unsubstantiated email it received, PKR organ Keadilan Daily alleged the government had “warned” PSD scholars against attending the PKR de-facto leader’s session at Adelaide’s Festival of Ideas, as it would then expose them to “stern action”. -Malaymail