KUALA LUMPUR - Youth activist Ali Abdul Jalil who is now seeking political asylum in Sweden to escape prosecution for sedition back home, accused the Malaysian government today of treating him like “rubbish”.
Writing on his Facebook page this afternoon, Ali claimed his country no longer felt like a safe haven for him, especially after receiving a number of threats from “gangsters and racist Malay groups in Malaysia”.
“Now, I am in Sweden... Looking for asylum… the Malaysian government and sultan treat me like rubbish,” he wrote.
“I have been threatened with gangsters and racist Malay groups in Malaysia.... Malaysia is not safe for me, police and gangsters are following me all the time,” he added.
Ali also thanked several human rights groups for their support, namely Amnesty International, Anything But Umno, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, Suara Rakyat Malaysia, the Bar Council, Lawyers for Liberty, Sisters in Islam, Projek Dialog and Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia, among others.
According to news portal Rakyat Times today, Ali left Malaysia on October 18 and flew to Stockholm, Sweden, from Bangkok three days later.
Upon arrival, the young activist made contact with the Swedish chapter of Amnesty International, where he received advice on how to apply for political asylum, the portal wrote.
Ali was subsequently interviewed by the local immigration authorities on Thursday where he reportedly disclosed the full details of his court cases back home. He is now awaiting the results of his application.
Earlier today, Ali’s sister Asiah confirmed that her brother had left town to seek asylum abroad.
She said Ali had not informed his family of the sudden move but contacted them upon his arrival on Tuesday.
Ali was among the 15 anti-government dissidents and opposition politicians who arrested under the colonial-era Sedition Act 1948 in the space of one month.
The sedition dragnet has drawn domestic and international condemnation, putting the Najib administration’s reform pledge under the spotlight.
On September 8, after posting bail for one sedition charge of insulting the Johor royalty, Ali was rearrested and then charged again for another two counts - one for allegedly insulting the Sultan of Selangor and the other for undermining the royal institution.
He later claimed trial to the two charges at the Shah Alam Sessions Court with his bail set at RM4,000 for each count. -Malay Mail
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