I felt 'NOTHING REALLY': Blogger Alvin Tan on how he felt after passport revoked

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian government has announced that they are revoking the passports of two citizens seeking political asylum abroad.

Alvin Tan and Ali Abdul Jalil both fled the country after facing charges in Malaysia under the controversial Sedition Act. Mr Tan also faces charges under the Film Censorship Act and the Penal Code for posting pornographic material online.

To the Malaysian government, revoking their passports serves as a warning to the public: Insult the courts, Islam or Malaysia's rulers and there will be consequences.

However, Mr Tan tells Channel NewsAsia that he is unfazed. He is currently in the United States, where he is seeking political asylum.

“What did I feel when it was announced that my passport was revoked? Nothing really,” he said. “I have a pretty decent life now in America which I have of course built with my own blood and sweat, and so losing a mere travel document is not going to change anything. In any case, US Immigration has possession of my passport since May this year, so it makes no practical difference to my life right now.

“America has all that I need. I mean, it is the political, economic and cultural headquarters of the world right now and it is literally the size of a whole continent. So I think I have plenty to explore before I get replacement documents - most likely a refugee travel document issued by US Immigration.”

Mr Tan added that those who think he will be deported “have no idea what they are talking about”.

“To those who think that I will be miraculously deported back just because I lack valid travel documents, I suggest that these under-educated people pick up a book on international law, immigration law, or even asylum law, because they have no idea what they are talking about. They are almost as stupid as the politicians who constantly hoodwink them with the unrealistic threats of bringing me back to face justice. They are almost as stupid as their own politicians.”

Mr Tan and Mr Ali Abdul Jalil fled Malaysia earlier this year, after facing criminal charges over social media postings. Mr Tan had posted a Facebook photo deemed insulting to Islam and also faces charges for uploading pornographic material, while Mr Ali's undoing was a Facebook status that allegedly insulted Malaysian royalty.

SEDITION ACT'S INTERNATIONAL SCRUTINY

The controversial Sedition Act used to charge the duo has come under scrutiny both at home and abroad.

United States Vice President Joe Biden commented on Twitter the Act raised "concerns".

While United Nations Resident Coordinator for Malaysia Michelle Gyles-McDonnaough said: "We do believe it does poses constraints in its current form to freedom of expression and the ability to have open, meaningful discourse around important issues in society."

However, despite the criticisms, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak believes the law is a necessary tool to maintain peace in the multi-ethnic nation. He's pledged to not only retain, but strengthen the act that he had earlier promised to abolish.

"We can't relax regulations as long as there are still Malaysians who are irresponsible, who don't practice democracy, who don't have mutual respect for race, religion, different religious understandings and so on to the point where this is leading to a level of tension that's continually increasing," he said.

Observers say if the Act is to stay, changes will have to be made to balance the need for national security with the fundamental principles of human rights.

The Malaysian government is not looking at such refinements for now. Instead, it is expected to table amendments to strengthen the act at the next parliamentary sitting.

- CNA